Maoist leaders visited key points of the Nepal-India border yesterday as part of their campaign for ‘national independence’, but were at pains not to annoy India.
At the disputed Susta, Nawalparasi border, Baburam Bhattari said “foreign interventionists” and “internal reactionaries” were undermining Nepali independence. The Kathmandu Post reports:
Baburam Bhattarai said Nepalis had to fight against foreign intervention and internal reactionary forces together. He said his party had taken the expansionists who encroached border with the help of internal reactionary elements, comprador capitalism and world feudalism as the great foe.
At Pashupatinagar, hardliner Mohan Baidhya warned, “We want to move ahead together with India and China for progress and development. But we are ready to fight if the Indian authorities put up unnecessary hurdles.”
Meanwhile, at Mahendranagar, Pushpa Kamal Dahal struck a more cautious note.
“Let this not be misunderstood as a ploy to sour Nepal-India relations. It is not that we want to fight with foreigners and capture their land, but we will not tolerate if someone eyes our nation.”
However, even as the movement kicks up a notch, there are reports that Dahal has secretly met Indian intelligence officials in the last couple of months. Republica reports:
He also went to Singapore in mid-November last year; ostensibly to meet NC President Girija Prasad Koirala. It turned out that he met Indian intelligence officials. What transpired at the meetings has not been revealed so far.
President Ram Baran Yadav has drawn criticism after his legal advisor, Surya Dhungel, said CA would be “automatically dissolved” following the 28 May deadline. Republica reports:
“This meeting urges the honorable president to maintain the dignity of his office and not cross his limitation and jurisdiction,” said a statement issued after the parliamentary party meeting.
According to a report by the United Nations, over 30 per cent of government schools in Biratnagar don’t have clean water. The Himalayan Times reports:
The report states, “A study in 14 government schools of Biratnagar, conducted between 1-31 December by Nagarik Sarokar Manch, concluded that more than 30 per cent of the schools have been providing contaminated drinking water to their students. The team arrived at the conclusion after testing water samples from the schools tube wells.”
Finally, Ananta Raj Khadka, bodyguard of Parsa's Assistant Chief District Officer, Bal Bahadur Malla, was killed on Monday by gunfire trained on Malla. Samyukta Janatantrik Mukti Morcha, an underground armed outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Our condolensces go out to Khadka's family and friends.