KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you an in-depth weekly recap of notable events every Monday morning.
From political unrest to religious controversies and sports scandals, last week has been nothing short of sensational.
The Nepali political scene witnessed turbulence following an agreement with India, sparking heated debates amid the winter chill of January.
Every Monday, Khabarhub provides a comprehensive briefing, revisiting last week’s pivotal occurrences, offering our readers valuable insights.
Last week, international politics also witnessed upheaval, with American and British forces initiating operations against Hutu rebels in the Red Sea region of Yemen since Thursday.
However, our focus in this briefing remains on domestic affairs, excluding foreign events.
Key events this week include the nomination of 52 candidates for the National Assembly elections, an 8-year jail sentence for cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane on charges of rape, the arrest of the alleged ascetic Ram Bahadur Bamjan, discussions surrounding a 200 million aid agreement with India, and the Prime Minister’s intervention in the labor ministry’s deal with a Malaysian company.
Let’s delve into the week’s highlights:
Nepali casualties in Russia: The death toll of Nepalis who joined the Russian army to fight against Ukraine has risen to 12.
Sonu Sunar, who abandoned his job in Qatar for this cause, lost his life two weeks ago.
The news reached his family only on Wednesday, as he had been out of contact with them for two months.
The government has suspended work permits for Russia and Ukraine due to the increasing risks.
Despite the government’s decision, it has been unable to rescue Nepalis in Russia or bring back the bodies of the deceased.
This failure reflects diplomatic incompetence on the government’s part.
Malaysia Case Unearthed:
This week, the Foreign Employment Board, operating under the Ministry of Labor and Employment, found itself embroiled in a contentious deal with a Malaysian company.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda took swift action, intervening to annul an agreement that aimed to collect $45 per person under the guise of data collection and assistance for Nepalis working in Malaysia.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Dahal also issued directives instructing Nepali workers not to burden themselves financially and to reduce the training fee from 28 rupees to 700 rupees.
This revelation exposes that the Ministry of Labor entered into agreements with foreign companies driven by a desire for commissions.
Despite the Prime Minister’s announcement of the contract suspension, no progress has been made in investigating and taking action against the culprits.
Sandeep Lamichhane Receives an 8-Year Prison Sentence!
Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane, convicted of rape, was sentenced to 8 years in prison, with a fine of 3 lakhs and compensation of 2 lakh rupees.
Despite the court’s verdict, Sandeep has not been arrested.
The High Court Patan is yet to decide whether he should appeal from jail or outside.
Sandeep’s sports career faces a ‘break’ as the court deems him more inclined towards ‘sexual activities’.
Forced to resign from the national team on ethical grounds, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) suspended him last week.
Concurrently, during Sandeep’s impending sentencing by the district court, a criminal act exposed the identity of the victim, Gaushala 26, on Facebook, prompting a police complaint and the expulsion of a Rastriya Swatantra Party worker.
Three Crores Seized with Bamjan, Sarlahi Scandal
In another significant development last week, Ram Bahadur Bamjan, self-proclaimed ‘Little Buddha’ or ‘ascetic’, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) of Police in Budhanilakantha in Kathmandu.
The arrest revealed a stash of more than three crores in cash with Bamjan.
Bamjan faces allegations of sexual assault on a devotee while at the ashram in Sarlahi.
Already under arrest, the court has granted permission for his detention and further investigation.
Some victims have gone as far as accusing Bomjan of abducting individuals, leading to their mysterious disappearances.
Caution against RPP’s Speaker
Last week witnessed the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a vocal critic of republicanism, federalism, and the provincial structure, securing the post of Speaker in Koshi Province.
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Maoist Center leaders, despite questioning the RPP’s stance, surprisingly bestowed the Speaker’s position as a gift.
Amar Bahadur Bista, a Jhapali leader and a close associate of RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden, assumed the role of Speaker of Koshi Province.
However, internal dissent within the RPP regarding this matter has sparked a dual-fronted struggle.
Chairman Lingden has asserted that the issue will be resolved through a party meeting.
National Assembly Election
Last week marked the registration of nominations for the upcoming National Assembly elections scheduled for January 25.
Niranjan Thapa of the Rastriya Prajatantra (RPP) party withdrew his candidacy, faced with 52 nominations for 19 seats.
UML alone has put forward nominations for all 19 seats, while the ruling coalition has endorsed a common candidate.
In the National Assembly, a notable shift in focus towards those who lost elections, party loyalists, and relatives has sparked criticism.
The need to send experts and individuals who have gained prominence in national life has prompted this unconventional approach.
However, discontent and differing opinions on this matter persist within the party, leading to an unfortunate degradation of the National Assembly’s dignity, as observed this week.
Rs 20 crore grant dispute
Last week, during the visit of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to Nepal, the controversy surrounding the grant of up to Rs 20 crores has persisted.
Prime Minister Dahal addressed this issue in a parliamentary committee, yet criticism continues to mount even into this week.
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