We care about you

Published On: November 3, 2019 02:30 AM NPT By: Republica

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned to Baluwatar Thursday evening “fit and fine” after undergoing treatment at Tokha-based Grande Hospital for two days. Oli underwent hemodialysis twice in this period. Emerging from the hospital, PM Oli said in a reassuring tone that he is all right. But during the two days when the PM was undergoing treatment larger public concern, including that of the media, was about PM’s office not informing the general public about the nature of ailment and the treatment he was administered. People were nearly kept in the dark about the health status of the head of the government. “What happened to the prime minister? Is the illness serious? Why does not the government update the people with regular health status?” People asked in the social media. Part of such response was triggered by rather conflicting and confusing statements coming from advisors of the prime minister. Earlier it was said that PM was in the hospital for a “regular check up.” PM’s press advisor would say the PM is all right and he would return home soon after, then the hospital administration would inform otherwise. It is good that PM has regained his health and reportedly has no problem in governing. We hope the PM will recover early and will be able to get back to work actively.

Gear up for VNY 2020

Published On: October 31, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

Nepal will officially welcome the Visit Nepal Year 2020 in less than 60 days. The government has announced a goal to welcome at least two million tourists in the year 2020.

Let there be light

Published On: October 27, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

As the country goes for yet another three-day holiday for Tihar, there are many issues making the rounds in the media. For one, the most gruesome case of genocide that occurred in 2008 is not moving toward resolution. The main suspect, Mohammad Aftab Alam, has been denying the allegation that he masterminded that criminal act. He is even claiming that the bomb explosion that killed people on the eve of first Constituent Assembly elections in April, 2008 did not occur at all. District court has remanded him in custody for one more week and there are genuine fears that the victims and eyewitnesses of the murders might be influenced by the culprits and their relatives.  The case of rape attempt against former Speaker of House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara is not making any headway. Meanwhile, the government has arrested a rapper on charge of spreading offensive message through his songs. People are divided in favor of and against the police action. While a group of people has been arguing that government is trying to divert the public attention from the pressing issues by arresting the singer, others have stood in favor of the police action.  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left for the Republic of Azerbaijan, leading the Nepali delegation to the 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Think beyond roads

Published On: October 24, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

In an egregious case of ‘dozer terror’ in Baitadi, the District Police Office has arrested the driver of the excavator for ramming the excavator bucket at the local people. The video of this cruel bulldozing, in which some locals are seen protesting and the driver rams the excavator at them mercilessly, went viral in social media, earning condemnation from Kathmandu and beyond.  As many as eight persons were injured, one of them seriously, in this act of crime. Meanwhile, the president of the local User’s Committee and two other persons have been arrested for investigation. According to Republica report, the locals were protesting against road construction because the land on which excavator was rammed on belonged to Guthi. In the video, the locals are also seen pelting stones at the excavator driver, who, enraged at this, aims the excavator bucket at the protestors randomly.  Whatever the dispute between the locals and the User’s Committee, attacking people with the excavator is a crime and those guilty of the incident must be brought to book, without any ifs and buts.  But broadly, the incident of Baitadi is emblematic of what is fundamentally wrong with our notion of development at local sphere.

Let Sajha rise

Published On: October 23, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

Sajha Yatayat, a cooperative public transportation organization established in 1961 to provide efficient and affordable public transportation services to the people in Kathmandu Valley, evokes pleasant memories among all those who have used it. Sajha was timely and affordable, which is why when the people had to travel outside of the valley they would first choose Sajha over other services. And it ran pretty well until the mid 1980s. Then came the 1990s. Politicization, entered Sajha too, like in other public sectors, and coupled with mismanagement, Nepal’s exemplary public transportation system suffered its end. Therefore, when Sajha resumed its service eight years ago, there was a sense of excitement among commuters. In few years since its resumption of service, Sajha has become popular again. Sajha has set an example in Nepal’s public transportation sector. Few other private bus services have tried to emulate Sajha.

No influence-pedaling

Published On: October 22, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

After the police arrested one after another high-profile leaders on various charges—from rape attempt to murder to murder attempt—beginning with the arrest of former Speaker of House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara early this month, people cheered the administration of KP Sharma Oli.

Serious case of neglect

Published On: October 21, 2019 04:06 AM NPT By: Republica

A number of anomalies in public and private health institutes are being reported in recent times but the Ministry of Health under Upendra Yadav does not seem to be doing anything substantive to curb them and hold to account those who are neglecting their duties. One such mess recently reported concerns neglect of patients in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.

Reinventing NRNA

Published On: October 20, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

The ninth global conference of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) concluded on Friday by electing new leadership.

Food for thought

Published On: October 17, 2019 02:37 AM NPT By: Republica

UNICEF’s report entitled ‘The State of World’s Children 2019: Children, Food and Nutrition’ brings a disturbing fact about Nepali children: some 43 percent of children under five years are either stunted or wasted or overweight in Nepal. According to the report, one in every two Nepali children under two years is eating a poor diet.

Pay your attention

Published On: October 16, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Republica

Kathmandu, some parts of it at least, was given a facelift overnight on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal last week. It had to be done. We could not keep major parts of the valley enveloped in dust and dotted with potholes during the times of high level visit from the largest neighbor.