मन्त्रिपरिषदद्वारा ऋषि अमेरिका उड्नु पूर्व मुद्धा फिर्ता

काठमाडौं, ४ असोज (दैनिकी)

मन्त्रिपरिषदको आइतबार बसेको बैठकले पत्रकार ऋषि धमला, रामशुभक महत्तो र वीरेन्द्र केएमको मुद्धा फिर्ता लिने निर्णय गरेको छ । रिपोर्टर्स क्लबका अध्यक्ष धमला परराष्ट्रमन्त्री सुजाता कोइरालाको सिफारिसमा रातो पासपोर्ट लिएर प्रधानमन्त्रीको भ्रमणटोलीमा समावेश भएर आज साँझ अमेरिका जाँदैछन । हातहतियार तथा खरखजाना ऐनअन्तर्गत धमला र अन्य दुई पत्रकारलाई केही समय अघि प्रहरीले पक्राउ गरेको थियो ।
प्रहरीले तीनजना विरुद्ध सशस्त्र समूह रणबीर सेनासँग संलग्नताको अभियोगमा मुद्दा चलाएको थियो। ती मध्ये धमला तारेखमा रिहा भइसकेका छन् भने महतो र केएम अझै थुनामा छन्।
स्रोतका अनुसार मन्त्री कोइरालाको प्रस्तावमा ऋषिको मुद्दा फिर्ता लिने प्रसंग उठेपछि मधेशी मन्त्रीहरुले अन्य दुई मधेशीमूलका पत्रकारहरुप्रति किन विभेद नि भनेर आपत्ती गरेका थिए । यो निर्णयलगत्तै अदालतमा सरकारको निर्णय पठाइएको छ । फौज्दारी मुद्दामा सरकार वादी हुन्छ र यसको प्रकृया सरकारी वकिलको कार्यालयमार्फत अघि बढ्छ ।
नियमानुसार अमेरिकाले फौज्दारी अभियोग लागेकाहरुलाई आफ्नो मुलुकको प्रवेशाज्ञा दिदैन । तर परराष्ट्रमन्त्री सुजाता कोइरालाको "विशेष आग्रह"मा धमलालाई भिसा दिइएको स्रोतको दाबी छ ।
मन्त्रिपरिषदको बैठकले द्वन्द्वकालमा खोसिएका सम्पत्ति फिर्ता छानबिन गरी क्षतिपूर्ति तय गर्न शान्तिमन्त्री रकम चेम्जोङको अध्यक्षतामा ६ सदस्यीय समिति गठन गरिएको सूचना तथा सञ्चारमन्त्री शंकर पोखरेलले जानकारी दिए । उनका अनुसार सो समितिमा अर्थ गृह र महिला तथा बालबालिका मन्त्रालयका प्रतिनिधि समावेश छन ।
बैठकले देशभरिका अस्पताल विकास समितिहरु विघटन गरेको छ ।
बैठकमा विषेश गरेर प्रधानमन्त्रीको अमेरिका भ्रमण र राष्ट्र संघको महासभामा हुने सहभागिता र एजेण्डाहरुका बारेमा छलफल भएको थियो ।

source:

http://www.dainikee.com/newsdetail-10350.html

पशुपति घटनामा संलग्न छैनौः माओवादी

पशुपति घटनामा संलग्न छैनौः माओवादी

शनिवार, 05 सेप्टेम्बर 2009 20:25 नागरिक

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• 4काठमाडौं, भदौ २० (नागरिक)- एकीकृत नेकपा माओवादीले पशुपतिनाथका भारतीय पुजारीलाई शुक्रबार भएको हातपातमा पार्टीको संलग्नता नरहेको उल्लेख गरेको छ। भारतीय राजदूत राकेश सुदले माओवादी अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालसँग पुजारी आक्रमणका विषयमा जिज्ञासा राखेपछि माओवादीले वक्तव्य मार्फत त्यस घटनामा सँलग्न नभएको जिकिर गरेको हो। माओवादी अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विभाग इन्चार्ज कृष्णबहादुर महराले जारी गरेको विज्ञप्तिमा धार्मिक सदभाव खल्बलाउने र हस्तक्षेप गर्ने आफ्नो पार्टी नीति नभएको भनिएको छ। "'जनसमुदाय'को स्वतन्त्र संघर्षको विषयलाई अनावश्यक र पूर्वाग्रही रुपमा आफ्नोपार्टीप्रति लक्षित नगर्न महराले आग्रह गरेका छन।

काठमाडौं, भदौ २० (नागरिक)- एकीकृत नेकपा माओवादीले पशुपतिनाथका भारतीय पुजारीलाई शुक्रबार भएको हातपातमा पार्टीको संलग्नता नरहेको उल्लेख गरेको छ। भारतीय राजदूत राकेश सुदले माओवादी अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालसँग पुजारी आक्रमणका विषयमा जिज्ञासा राखेपछि माओवादीले वक्तव्य मार्फत त्यस घटनामा सँलग्न नभएको जिकिर गरेको हो। माओवादी अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विभाग इन्चार्ज कृष्णबहादुर महराले जारी गरेको विज्ञप्तिमा धार्मिक सदभाव खल्बलाउने र हस्तक्षेप गर्ने आफ्नो पार्टी नीति नभएको भनिएको छ। "'जनसमुदाय'को स्वतन्त्र संघर्षको विषयलाई अनावश्यक र पूर्वाग्रही रुपमा आफ्नोपार्टीप्रति लक्षित नगर्न महराले आग्रह गरेका छन।

'हाम्रो पार्टी जनताको धार्मिक स्वतन्त्रताप्रति विश्वास गर्छ र जनसमुदायको कुनै पनि विषयमा विरोध वा समर्थन गर्ने स्वतन्त्र अधिकार र भावनाको सम्मान गर्दछ' विज्ञप्तिमा उल्लेख छ।

उनले पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिरको पुजारीमा नेपाली नागरिक नियुक्त हुनुपर्छ भन्ने माग नेपाली जनसमुदायले लामो समयदेखि उठाउँदै आएको भन्दै हालै सरकारले पुजारी नियुक्ति सम्बन्धि गरेको निर्णयप्रति असहमति जनाउँदै 'जनसमुदाय'का तर्फबाट संघर्ष समिति गठन भइ संघर्षका कार्यक्रम गर्दै आएको जनाएका छन्।

Nepal govt wobbles as Maoists hijack Pashupatinath's sons' legacy

TNN 5 September 2009, 05:17pm IST

KATHMANDU: When Nepal's first Maoist government fell after only eight months of reign despite a stunning electoral victory, the god-fearing attributed it to the former guerrillas' disrespect for the gods and their bid to control the holy shrine of Pashupatinath.

On Saturday, after the new government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal failed to protect the Indian priests it had appointed there a week ago and the 5th century temple continued to come under fire, the 22-party ruling alliance wobbled as 15 Terai MPs, in a bolt from the blue, warned they would withdraw support.

The unexpected threat comes from the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), the powerful Madhes party the Nepal government had tried to keep happy by gifting it six out of nine ministries when the cabinet was expanded Wednesday. If the warning is executed, it would be a blow to Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, who heads the party, and had wrested 28 MPs from the parent party, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, in May.

The original faction, led by former foreign minister Upendra Yadav, is not averse to an alliance with the Maoists and the dissident Gachhedar MPs could return to the original fold, increasing chances of a Maoist recapture of power.

The new development comes as the government remains preoccupied putting out the flame at Pashupatinath. Culture Minister Minendra Kumar Rijal and Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood joined forces to stage a show of solidarity and offer puja at the temple Saturday morning when it was kept closed to all other visitors for fear of a fresh attack on the newly appointed priests.

Girish Bhatt, 33, and Raghavendra Bhatt, 34, the two new priests from Karnataka whose appointment triggered an unprecedented attack on them inside the temple yesterday, were initiated into their official duties today despite the wild protests outside. Protesters carried banners that said "Down with Indian expansionism" and demanded the appointment of Nepali priests.

Police arrested 30 protesters from the Pashupatinath area after the prime minister himself pledged tough action against the attackers. "The government is stunned by the uncivilized barbaric attack," Rijal told the media. "It is an attempt to mar the age-old harmonious relations between India and Nepal. We share the same culture, religion and tradition and Nepali priests perform the puja at the Jagannath temple in Puri and other Indian temples."

The Indian envoy, who was asked by the External Affairs Ministry to convey the Manmohan Singh government's concern to the Nepal government in the strongest terms, said that religion and nationalism should be kept separate. "God doesn't belong to any country," Sood said. "Religion has brought Nepal and India together. We will be able to keep the relationship alive at Pashupatinath and other places."

In India, Nepali priests are appointed at the shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Kashi and several temples in Karnataka.

However, the whole imbroglio is being by Bidur Bhatt and his Nepal Sannyasi Samaj, that had been the first organisation to seek the appointment of Nepali priests at Pashupatinath. "The Maoists have hijacked our movement," Bhatt said. "We had raised the demand 16 years ago."

The Sannyasis – travelling mendicants who are found at all Shiva temples – call themselves the sons of the Hindu god. The Sannyasis have no caste and in many Shiva temples in Nepal, the priests belong to the Sannyasi sect.

Attack on priests criminal: India

TNN 6 September 2009, 01:52am IST

BANGALORE/ NEW DELHI/ KATHMANDU: India on Saturday described the attack on priests in Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple as an unprovoked and criminal act of violence that goes against ‘‘the grain of the civilisational ties of friendship that have existed since time immemorial between the peoples of Nepal and India’’.

Foreign minister S M Krishna said India has already done enough to ensure the safety and security of the two Karnataka-based priests. ‘‘Nepal is a sovereign country and we have had traditionally good relationships with Nepal. I am sure they will do enough to ensure such incidents don’t recur,’’ Krishna said.

‘‘India shares historical bond with Nepal, in Kashi priests from Nepal perform the pujas and in Pashupatinath it is the Indian priests. It is a tradition being followed from centuries. So I think there should no problem between us,’’ Krishna said.

He said he was aware ofMaoist pressure on temple authorities to prevent Indian priests from conducting religious ceremonies and Nepal government had no role in it.

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said, ‘‘The matter was immediately taken up through our embassy in Kathmandu at the highest levels in the government of Nepal and our concerns conveyed. The safety and security of Indian citizens abroad is an abiding and core concern of the government of India and we continue to closely monitor the situation surrounding the unfortunate incident in Kathmandu,’’ said official sokesperson Vishnu Prakash.

India’s ambassador took up the matter immediately at the political level and the police authorities were also contacted. A team from the embassy in Kathmandu visited the Pashupatinath Temple to reassure the Indian priests. ‘‘We understand that the Nepalese authorities have apprehended over 25 persons in connection with this incident, including the ring leader,’’ said Prakash.

Culture minister Minendra Kumar Rijal and Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood offered puja at the temple on Saturday morning when it was kept closed to other visitors for fear of a fresh attack on the newly-appointed priests.
The Nepal PM vowed tough action against the attackers. ‘‘The government is stunned by the uncivilised, barbaric attack,’’ Rijal said. ‘‘It’s an attempt to damage the age-old harmonious relations between India and Nepal.’’

source:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Attack-on-priests-criminal-India/articleshow/4977236.cms

India had warned Maoist chief about temple attack Indrani Bagchi, TNN 5 September 2009, 03:24am IST NEW DELHI: Rakesh Sood, India's envoy to Nepal, had cautioned Maoist leader Prachanda on Thursday that his party cadres might attempt violence in the Pashupatinath temple after the appointment of two Indian priests. His worst fears came true on Friday when a group of 25-30 Maoist cadres beat up the new priests, Girish Bhatt and Raghamendra Bhatt, partially stripped them and paraded them in Kathmandu, leading to a strongly worded protest by India. "The embassy in Kathmandu took up the matter with the political leadership and the government has assured them of the security of the priests," a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. About 20 people have been arrested and sources said one of the main culprits too had been caught. This incident is the latest in a series of events that is leading India to conclude that the Maoists are now hell-bent on undermining traditional institutions in Nepal, specially those that have any connection with India. The attempt, officials said, appeared to be to make these institutions less Nepali but more Maoist. In 2008, the then Maoist-led Nepalese government had sacked three south Indian priests at the Pashupatinath temple, triggering a crisis, particularly after they were replaced by Nepali Brahmins. This departure from a 300-year-old tradition drew huge protests and the government was compelled to revise its decision. In fact, the crisis earlier this year which ended with the ouster of Prachanda as prime minister was yet another instance, Indian officials said, where the Maoists were attempting to subvert the army, an institution with strong India links, but also to wrest control of the institution. Although Indian officials said they were trying to keep Maoists in the loop, it's becoming clear that relations between Maoists and India are deteriorating by the day. The Maoists have launched a struggle committee, and this week the Maoist leadership also announced that it would restart the parallel local governments. In other words, Maoists are preparing the ground for a return to violence, which India now sees as inevitable. It doesn't help that the Madhav Nepal government, including the mainstream political parties, have proved to be totally inept at handling the Maoists. The constitution is certainly not going to be written in time, said sources. But governance too is petering out, which might prove to be oxygen for the Maoist's movement the second time round. Although PM Madhav Nepal himself approved the appointment of the priests, with full knowledge of the Maoists' disapproval, he could barely ensure their security. source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/India-had-warned-Maoist-chief-about-temple-attack/articleshow/4973454.cms

India fumes over assault on Indian priests in Nepal PTI 5 September 2009, 01:41pm IST

BANGALORE: India on Saturday said it has taken up with Nepal the Pashupatinath temple incident in which two Indian priests were yesterday thrashed, their clothes torn and sacred thread cut by dozens of Maoists who stormed the temple protesting their recent appointment.

"We are in touch with the Government of Nepal," External Affairs Minister S K Krishna told reporters on Saturday on being asked about the incident.

Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood has taken up the matter in Kathmandu with Nepal Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal and Culture Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari who assured him that steps will be taken to ensure safety of the priests.

"We are also in touch with the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust and they have enhanced the security around the temple and they have provided enough security to the priests where they stay and where they operate," Krishna said.

After the incident, Nepal government provided a personal security officer to the head priest of the temple and a platoon of armed police was deployed at the shrine.

The minister said India was aware that "there is Maoist pressure on the temple authorities to prevent the Indian priests from conducting religious ceremonies".

Some 40-50 Maoists, posing as devotees, barged into the 5th century Hindu shrine at around 1.30 pm and broke open the door of a room where the priests -- Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta -- were preparing for daily prayers.

source:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Indian-priests-stripped-thrashed-iin-Nepal-India-lodges-protest/articleshow/4975039.cms