NC CWC meeting begins

Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress is taking place at the party central office, Sanepa, from this afternoon to hold discussion on the statute amendment draft.

Earlier, the meeting of the party held on November 25 had given three days’ time to study on the report prepared by the Statute Amendment Draft Committee. The Committee under the leadership of Party General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka had submitted the proposal in the previous meeting.

The NC had formed Statute Amendment Draft Committee under the leadership of General-Secretary Khadka for timely revision of the statute as per federal structure of the country.

The party is going to hold its Mahasamiti meeting in Kathmandu from December 14-18 to amend the party statute.

Modi invites Oli for Ardha Kumbha Mela

Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath will not inaugurate the Jayanagar-Janakpur-Kurtha train service during his visit of Janakpur in December, the government has clarified.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali told Setopati that Adityanath will be in Janakpur only for a cultural visit and will not inaugurate the train service.

Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit Janakpur on Vivaha Panchami in mid-December around six weeks back.

A wedding procession of lord Ram arrives in Janakpur from Ayodhya, India on the day of Vivaha Panchami every year to mark the wedding of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in Janakpur in Treta epoch, as per the Hindu mythology.

PM Oli had invited Modi to arrive in such wedding procession on Vivaha Panchami that falls on December 12 this year.

“We had invited him for a cultural visit. We had scheduled to inaugurate the Jayanagar-Janakpur-Kurtha train service during his visit if possible,” Minister Gyawali told Setopati. “But he replied recently that he cannot visit due to his busy schedule.”

Modi has said that CM Yogi Adityanath will represent him for the program.

The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has already opposed the reported inauguration of the train service by CM Adityanath who frequently speaks for reinstatement of monarchy and Hindu state in Nepal.

“We will welcome whoever comes from there. But his visit will just be a cultural one,” Minister Gyawali pointed. “He will return back after the cultural visit. He will not inaugurate train service.”

Province 2 government and Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City, meanwhile, has intensified preparations for the visit of Adityanath

Modi had also visited Janakpur in May.

Modi, meanwhile, has invited PM Oli to visit India during the Ardha Kumbha Mela in January, 2019. “PM Modi has invited PM Oli for a cultural visit. We have yet to take any decision on that,” Minister Gyawali said.

PM Oli had last visited India in April.

Mercury drops, increasing cold across country

Cold has climbed throughout the country including in the Kathmandu Valley. The minimum temperature of Kathmandu dropped to 6.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Much cold has been felt in the Valley due to the drop in mercury. However, the temperature is somewhat more in the daytime, the Weather Forecasting Division has stated. The maximum temperature in Kathmandu is projected to reach 22 degrees Celsius on Monday.

The Division said that temperature has been steadily dropping throughout the country including in the Kathmandu Valley in the last few days. The minimum temperature in Jumla has dropped to minus 0.1 degree Celsius and the maximum temperature to 21.5 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperature in Birendranagar is 13.5 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is 29.6 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperature in Simara is 11.8 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is 29.5 degrees Celsius. Dang has recorded minimum temperature of 10.1 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature at 25.8 degrees Celsius. Similarly, the minimum temperature in Dhankuta is 10.3 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is 24.4 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Pokhara is 9.5 degrees Celsius and the maximum 25.4 degrees Celsius.
The Division has stated that the trend over the last few days shows that the temperature might further decrease.

Two killed in Nawalparasi West road mishap

At least two people died and other 32 were injured when a commuter bus met with an accident at Bhumahi of Nawalparasi West district along the East-West Highway on Wednesday morning.

The Kakadbhitta-bound bus (Na 5 Kha 1096) from Mahendranagar met with the accident nearby Traffic Police Office.

One of the deceased has been identified as Lokendra Bahadur Karki, 33, and the other victim is yet to be identified, shared Alok BK, Police Inspector at Area Police Office, Sunawal.

The injured are being treated at different local hospitals.

Rape accused busted

Saptari – Police busted Sadam Miya, 21, of Khadak Municipality of Saptari on the charge of raping a 15-year-old girl of the same district. The police also registered a case against him immediately.

Miya had raped her at his home, the victim girl shared, adding that, “He proposed me to move around the place while I was observing Chhath festival on the bank of Chapin stream at Khadak municipality-5, Khojpur on Wednesday”. She further shared he took me to his home and raped.

Her health examination was carried out at Ramkumar Uma Prasad Sharada Memorial Hospital at Lahan after the victim’s mother lodged a complaint on Thursday.

The rape-accused was arrested on Saturday and a case of rape was registered against him next day, said Kamal Mani Bhattarai, Police Inspector at the Area Police Office. ---