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Dahal’s NCP central member list upsets Maoist Centre aspirants

May 25, 2018-Former leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre), which merged with the CPN-UML to form the Nepal Communist Party, have voiced dissatisfaction at the selection of 200 members from their side for the new party’s central committee, calling the process “undemocratic”.

To the 441-member central body, the erstwhile UML faction sent 241 members quite systematically while Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the former Maoist supremo, faces the charges of selecting the remaining 200 members arbitrarily.

Disgruntled members say the party leadership should have set the selection criteria, which could have been the basis for the top leadership to justify its picks.

“Picking leaders without any criteria leaves a bad impression on the new party,” said leader Mani Thapa, claiming that people could raise questions about the democratic character of the new party.

A three-member team led by Dahal was authorised to select members for the NCP central committee from the Maoist side. The other members included Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Shrestha and Thapa are learnt to have entrusted Dahal with the selection while they would only make suggestions on his picks.

Leaders who failed to make it to the list of 200 have accused Dahal of favouring only those in his coterie. Those not on the list, according to knowledgeable sources, are aware that they have no alternative but to accept the decision. Their concern was only over the selection process that flouted democratic norms.

“It would have been easier to convince those not on the list had there been the selection criteria,” said leader Dev Gurung.

Leaders including Govinda Bahadur Batala, DP Dhakal, Parasmani Poudel, Mohan Hari Poudel, Jhalakpani Tiwari, Komal Baral and Shrikanta Adhikary could not find their place in the central committee.

“I have spent 23 long years for the party and lost my younger brother and sister in the People’s War. I was injured four times but I get no responsibility in the party today,” Batala expressed his feelings on social media.

The Maoist party had more than 4,000 members in its general convention organising committee formed after several splinter groups rejoined the mother party. Those dissatisfied at Dahal’s decision have demanded other responsibilities in the unified party.

Leaders asked to cement unity

Nepal Communist Party Co-chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal have directed central members to strive for achieving the government’s goal of prosperity with social justice.

At an informal meeting of the Central Committee held at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Thursday, the leaders stressed the need for optimum efforts for strengthening the bond between leaders of the erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre).

The UML and the Maoist Centre formally unified last week, forming the NCP with an overwhelming majority in Parliament. In the 441-member Central Committee, 241 come from the erstwhile UML and the remaining 200 from the then Maoist Centre.

According to NCP Spokesman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Oli and Dahal directed the leaders to help manage the federal, provincial and local level governments in line with the stated policies. He added that the focus was on good governance and fighting corruption.

Shrestha said the meeting was organised to collect signatures of the Central Committee members for submitting them to the Election Commission for party registration.

The NCP had asked all the central members to be present without fail with a copy of their citizenship. The formal meeting of the NCP Central Committee will convene after getting EC recognition for the party body.

Committees and organisations of the old factions are in the process of becoming one. Three committees have been formed with a mandate to come up with appropriate suggestions within 15 days for smoothening the process.

Nepalis denied UT-Tyler grants receive scholarships from other US colleges

May 25, 2018-Twenty-five of the 61 students, who were stranded after the US-based University of Texas (UT) at Tyler revoked full scholarships granted for their undergraduate programmes for the August intake, have got placement in several American universities.

Following appeals by the students through different channels, around a dozen universities have offered full-ride scholarships and full scholarships to those who had their offers rescinded. Drake University, University of Kentucky (UoK), SUNY Korea (State University of New York in Korea), Texas Christian University, University of Akron, University of Denver (UoD), University of Kentucky, Robert Morris University, College of Idaho, Cladwell University, Bethune Cookman and UT Arlington have agreed to accommodate the students.

Twenty of them have got full-ride scholarships, which cover tuition and accommodation, while five others got full tuition scholarship. Joan Liu, university advisor at the United World College in Singapore, who has been helping out the students, said, “We are working together with EducationUSA in Kathmandu to find placement for the deceived students.” She has also been lobbying with different universities to place the students.

Roman Shrestha, one of the students who were denied the promised scholarship, told the Post after getting offer from the UoD that lobbying from different channels and media coverage helped them find new universities. “We are lucky to get new placement. We are still hopeful that our remaining friends will get placement soon too,” he said.

The UT at Tyler had agreed to provide full scholarships worth $21,000 a year for four years, covering tuition fees, accommodation, meals and books. The university, however, had revoked the scholarships two months later, after collecting $100 in scholarship confirmation fee and $125 as housing deposits. The students were preparing to join the university when it communicated its failure to honour the pledge. The university, which is part of the University of Texas that includes 14 colleges in the state of Texas, had granted full scholarship to 84 students with SAT score of 1,350 and good academic records. However, it revoked the scholarship of 61 students stating that it could not afford to provide the committed scholarships as the demand exceeded its budget.

The students said there are other universities offering partial scholarships but they were still waiting for full scholarship offers. The Western Illinois University has offered blanket scholarship of $40,000 for four years to all those whose scholarships fell through if they wish to join it. “We are looking if we can add lodging facilities for them,” said Shanker Ghimire, a professor at the university.

Gore denies role in Shakya’s murder

May 25, 2018-Chudamani Upreti aka Gore, the alleged mastermind of smuggling 33 kg gold into Nepal, denied his involvement in the murder of Sanam Shakya, the alleged gold carrier who was electrocuted to death.

Upreti told Morang District court on Thursday he had thrashed Shakya while searching the missing cache of gold. Upreti told Judge Narayan Prasad Sharma that he had only beaten Shakya, but had no role in his murder.

The court started recording Upreti’s statements on Wednesday. The court would take few more days to record his complete statement.

A special probe team, led by Home Ministry Joint-secretary Ishwor Poudel arrested Upreti from Gaurighat in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning. He was later brought to Biratnagar and presented to the court.

The District Attorney’s Office (DAO) filed a charge-sheet in the court against 63 suspects in the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the Shakya’s murder.

Twenty-eight suspects, who have been remanded in custody by the court, are in the Regional Prison in Jhumka, Sunsari. Thirty-two other suspects are still at large. The DAO recommended recovering Rs17 billion and an additional fine of Rs18 million from the accused.

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