‘New CA will own up past agreements’ 

Newly appointed chairperson of the Constituent Assembly (CA), Subash Chandra Nembang has expressed commitment to take necessary initiative to ensure that the new CA took ownership of the agreements reached by the erstwhile CA. “The previous CA has forged agreements on various issues and topics. Our responsibility is to own up those agreements and expedite the constitution drafting process,” he told journalists after assuming his office at the Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar few hours after taking oath of office from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on February  18. Nembang was elected the CA chairperson unopposed by the 571-member CA on February 17. Nembang will also serve as the Speaker in Parliament. Vice President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Acting Chief Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma, Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, heads of constitutional bodies, secretaries, heads of security bodies, among others, were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Nembang held the same post in the previous CA as well. 

 

PM Hopeful of New Constitution Within a Year

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has said that the government is committed to creating an atmosphere for promulgating a new constitution within a year. Stating that consensus among all political parties is needed to achieve the target of new constitution on time, Koirala said his government would strive for the same. Addressing the main celebrations organized on the occasion of 64th National Democracy Day on Falgun 7 (Feb 19), PM Koirala argued that commitments to civil rights and democratic norms and values will create a basis of mutual trust among the political parties. “I am hopeful of the promulgation of a new constitution within                        a year on the basis of political consensus,” he added. It is inevitable to make the citizens empowered, educated, conscious, aware and prosperous for stability and institutional development of democracy, the Prime Minister said, adding that the country could be taken on the path of prosperity through economic, social and educational development. 

 

 

UP Chief Minister Visits Nepal

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav arrived in Kathmandu on February 16 on a two-day official visit to Nepal. The chief executive of the bordering Indian state was accompanied by a delegation, including his uncle and Public Works Department Minister of Shivpal Singh Yadav. During his stay, he held meetings with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. He also held discussions with Nepali officials and ministers on border issues.

 

 

 

Dr Nepal Appointed PM’s Economic Advisor

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has appointed economist Dr Chiranjibi Nepal as his economic advisor on February 19. Before being appointed the PM’s economic advisor, Dr Nepal who is a proponent of free market economy was working as the chief economic advisor to the Ministry of Finance. Dr Nepal, who is the general secretary of Nepal Economic Association, an economists’ guild, has already served as the chief advisor to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Dr Nepal has his PhD on the relation of labour and economy and has been in the teaching profession for the past 28 years. He served as the executive chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) from 2007 to 2009.