Nepal

Kathmandu, August 19

Reconstruction of the Balgopaleshwor temple that lies in the middle of the historic Ranipokhari has finally begun more than four years after the 2015 earthquakes that damaged the temple.

Issuing a press release, the National Reconstruction Authority stated that the temple would be rebuilt in traditional granthakut style of the Malla era. The temple was built by King Pratap Malla in granthakut style in 1670.

The original temple was destroyed in the earthquake of 1934. After the earthquake, the temple was later reconstructed following gumbaz model by Rana rulers. According to historians and activists, the temple was rebuilt by Jung Bahadur Rana in 1905 making changes to its original design.

Two temples beside Swoyambhunath Stupa — Anantapur and Pratappur — were built in granthkut style. These two temple were also built in the Malla era.

Locals of Kathmandu, especially people from Newar community, were demanding that the temple be built in the Malla-era design.

NRA has also stated that they had started removing the previously made concrete foundation of the temple. &All structures built at Rani Pokhari will the given the Malla-era look,& the press release read.

NRA had started reconstruction work of the pond by hiring 60 women workers from Bhaktapur a few months ago.

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KATHMANDU: Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Monday refuted the remarks of Nepali Congress Lawmaker Pradip Giri who had said India would turn Nepal into Sikkim the day it could.

Speaking at the Parliamentary International Relations Committee on August 14, Giri had said the government should be careful about that fact. Gyawali said he could not believe a mature leader like Giri had made such remarks.

&If this is true, this is unacceptable. These types of remarks will only create unnecessary hiccups in bilateral relations. Nepal is an independent and sovereign country which was never a colony. We cannot even imagine that India would do something like that,& said Gyawali at a press briefing.

&Nepal government refutes such statements. It is beyond our imagination that Nepalindependence will be compromised. This is also a question mark on the capability of the sovereign Nepali people.&

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Kathmandu, August 19

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali today said the Nepal government was closely watching developments in Jammu and Kashmir of India.

This is the first time Nepal has officially spoken about Jammu and Kashmir since the Indian government on August 5 abrogated Article 370 of the Indian constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status, and bifurcated the state into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

He said Nepal mainly had two concerns — well-being of Nepalis living and working in Jammu and Kashmir, and regional peace and security.

&Thousands of Nepali citizens are working there. Nepal is concerned about their well-being,& said Gyawali at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. &Our embassy in New Delhi is constantly in touch with the Indian government on the matter. As of now, we have not received any reports of Nepalis facing difficulties, and we are hopeful they will not face difficultiesin the future.&

Gyawali also said Nepal had always been in favour of peace and stability in the neighbourhood, and the region. Stating that Nepal believed in peaceful resolution to any problem, he said that Nepal believed the Indian leadership was capable of resolving any issue peacefully.

&We believe dialogue is the only way to resolve misunderstanding between neighbouring countries or South Asian countries. As chair of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, we would like to convey the same message.&

When asked whether the Jammu and Kashmir issue would be part of talks in the upcoming Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting slated for August 21-22 in Kathmandu, Gyawali said these issues would not and should not be part of Nepal-India bilateral talks. &We do not discuss or comment on others& issues.&

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Kathmandu, August 18

Chief Whip of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Dev Prasad Gurung today expressed his dissatisfaction over the Military Courtverdict to jail a former military person who had deserted Nepali Army to join Maoist militia during the 10-year insurgency.

Speaking at the House of Representatives during special hour, Gurung said Shakti Gurung of Gokha Arughat-9, was convicted and sent to jail by the Military Court. The court had sentenced him to 10-year jail term on July 28.

The Military Courtdecision comes after 13 years of the incident. &The verdict of the Military Court is against the constitution,& he said.

He also said that a person named Bhagat Lal, a former Maoist combatant was arrested and detained by security agency some eight months ago.

Clauses of the Military Act from 38 to 65 include provisions on punitive measures.

The court had relied on those clauses in issuing its verdict. But, those provisions are in contravention with the constitution.

&Provisions on punishment in the Military Act contradict with Article 304 (2) of the constitution. Therefore, the verdict passed by the court should be declared void,& Gurung said.

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