Tag: Nepal

Nepal Prime Minister to seek fourth vote of confidence on Monday

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will seek a vote of confidence in Parliament on May 20, the fourth within 18 months of taking office, days after a coalition partner withdrew its support for his government.

Prachanda, a former guerilla leader, belongs to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), the third largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR). The decision to seek a vote of confidence came after the Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal on May 13 withdrew its support for the government following a split in the party.

Yadav resigned as deputy prime minister and his party pulled out of the government. “The Prime Minister is taking the vote of confidence as per Article 100 clause 2 of the Constitution of Nepal,” according to Dasharath Dhamala, assistant spokesperson of the House of Representatives.

The office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers has already sent a letter informing the Parliament Secretariat regarding the matter, said Dhamala. The Prime Minister is required to take a vote of confidence within 30 days if the party the Prime Minister is representing splits or if a member of the coalition government withdraws support. The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) withdrew its support last week while quitting the coalition government.

This will be Prime Minister Prachanda’s fourth vote of confidence within one and a half years after he assumed the top executive position on December 25, 2022. The new government requires at least 138 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives to win the vote of trust. Monday’s vote of confidence will be the fourth such by Prachanda, 69, since he assumed office in 2022.

Earlier on March 13, Prime Minister Dahal won his third consecutive vote of confidence. Last year, Prachanda faced a floor test after former prime minister KP Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML withdrew its support to the Prachanda-led government following a rift over backing the main opposition party’s candidate for the presidential poll. Prachanda’s support has notably declined in successive confidence votes. In January 2023, he obtained 268 votes, followed by 172 in March of the same year. His support further dwindled to just 157 votes in the third-floor test.

The vote also comes amid the ongoing chaos in the House over the probe into the alleged involvement of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane in the misappropriation of cooperative funds. Currently, the ruling coalition holds a majority with 77 seats of the CPN-UML, 32 of the Maoist Centre, 21 of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, seven of the newly formed Janata Samajbadi Party and 10 seats of the CPN-Unified Socialist (CPN-US).

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nepal bans ‘Everest, MDH Masala’ brand, starts test for ethylene oxide: Report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has banned the import, consumption and sale of two Indian spice brands Everest and MDH as it starts testing for levels of ethylene oxide, ANI reported.

Nepal has banned these two spice brands after the news about high levels of ethylene oxide traces in the products.

“Everest and MDH brand spices which are being imported in Nepal have been banned from import. This comes after the news about traces of harmful chemicals in the spices, ban on import was imposed a week earlier and we also have banned the sales of it in the market,” Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson of Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control told ANI over the phone.

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“Tests are underway for the chemicals in the spices of these two particular brands. The ban will remain in place until the final report comes up. Hong Kong and Singapore already have banned it, this move comes following their move,” Maharjan added in a telephone conversation with ANI.

Indian Government sources told ANI that the use of EtO is allowed in different countries from 0.73% to up to 7%.

Government sources said a standard should be devised for the use of EtO by different countries. Also, the spices banned in these countries are less than one per cent of India’s total spice exports, reported ANI.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav quits in a setback for Prachanda-led government

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and senior Madhesi leader Upendra Yadav on Monday tendered his resignation and his party pulled out of the government, a setback to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda-led coalition government.

Yadav, also the Minister for Health and Population, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister “Prachanda” on Monday morning, according to sources close to the Madhesi leader. Along with Yadav, Minister of State for Forest and Environment Dipak Karki, from the same party, has also submitted his resignation.

The resignation by Yadav, the Chairman of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (JSP-Nepal), comes a week after his party split into two groups with senior leader Ashok Rai forming a new party named Janata Samajwadi Party. The new party has been recognised by the Election Commission.

“This morning, I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Dahal. Given the current political situation, I find it untenable to continue my cooperation with the government,” Yadav said.

The JSP-Nepal had altogether 12 lawmakers in the House of Representatives (HoR). Now the party’s strength has been reduced to 5 in the HoR as Rai and six other lawmakers and 30 central committee members joined the new party.

The ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Prachanda still holds a majority with 77 seats of the CPN-UML, 32 of the Maoist Centre, 21 of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, seven of the newly formed Janata Samajbadi Party and 10 seats of the CPN-Unified Socialist (CPN-US). The coalition requires at least 138 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives to prove a majority.

“The party’s pull out from the government will not have an immediate impact on the Prachanda-led coalition government,” said Sunil Manandhar, former environment minister and central committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoist Centre. However, it may have some repercussions on the stability of the government in the long term, he added.

There are reports that the Opposition Nepali Congress is trying to mobilise JSP-Nepal and CPN-US led by former prime minister Madhav Nepal to topple the Prachanda-led government. Nepali Congress is currently obstructing the proceedings of the House of Representatives demanding the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhene, who is also the president of the Rastriya Swotantra Party over the issue of cooperative fund misappropriation.

If CPN-US also withdraws support from the government then the Prachanda-led government might need to prove its majority in the House of Representatives, point out political observers.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Hyundai Motor India and Laxmi Group kickstart Nepal’s first auto assembly plant

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has commenced local assembly of its compact SUV Venue in Nepal in collaboration with Laxmi Group.

The plant, the first automotive assembly facility in Nepal, has an annual installed capacity of 5,000 units.

“Hyundai Venue will be the first locally assembled model to roll off the plant. I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to the people of Nepal for this achievement,” Hyundai Motor India MD & CEO Unsoo Kim said in a statement.

The company is grateful to Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Government of Nepal for their unwavering support for the facility, he added.

“We look forward to more encouraging policies and incentives from the Nepal Government aimed at developing a conducive environment for local assembly,” Kim said.

Hyundai has partnered with Nepal-based Laxmi Group for the assembly plant.

The Laxmi Group will manufacture and sell the cars in Nepal, in continued collaboration and support on products and technology from HMC Korea and Hyundai Motor India, the automaker stated.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

After Sri Lanka, is Nepal next on ITC’s expansion radar? Sanjiv Puri opens up on investment, growth, and demerger

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Sanjiv Puri, Chairman of ITC Group, shed light on the company’s recent foray into Sri Lanka, its investment strategy, and potential future expansions, including a possible move into Nepal.

ITC’s entry into the international hospitality market with ITC Ratnadipa marks the largest investment by any Indian company in Sri Lanka to date. Puri emphasised the significance of ITC Ratnadipa, situated amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean and Beira Lake. With nine vibrant dining options, the property aims to showcase the best of Sri Lanka while adhering to ITC’s renowned hospitality standards.

“The globally acknowledged cuisines of ITC Hotels will also find a pride of place in ITC Ratnadipa through a repertoire of fine dining experiences. ITC Hotels’ commitment to promote local cuisine through its initiative – ‘Local Love’ has led its renowned chefs to draw inspiration from Sri Lanka’s ancient culinary traditions & indigenous foods. The Ahasa bride bar is an experience in itself and the entire property is an engineering and design marvel,” said Sanjiv Puri.

ITC’s expansion plans

Explaining the rationale behind venturing into Sri Lanka, Puri highlighted the country’s untapped tourism potential and its alignment with India’s “neighborhood first” policy. Despite economic challenges, Puri expressed optimism, citing promising macroeconomic indicators and the resilience of Sri Lanka’s economy.

“When we make investments, we look at analysis beyond the near-term issues. Sri Lanka has great potential in terms of tourism and it is not explored that much. The country has a lot to offer and tourism is bound to flourish here. There has been a bounce back in tourism already, and the economic bounce back is also looking up,” Puri said.

Furhter talking about ITC’s investment and expansion plans, Puri revealed that Nepal could be the next destination. With ongoing exploration by its subsidiary, ITC aims to capitalise on proximal markets while maintaining a robust pipeline of 70 properties for the next five years, including 22 new openings in India over the past 24 months.

“We will continue to look at various destinations, but we have a subsidiary in Nepal and we are looking for options there,” said Puri.

ITC demerger and post-COVID travel trends

Touching upon ITC’s demerger process, Puri assured stakeholders of progress, aiming for completion by year-end. Amidst the post-pandemic surge in travel enthusiasm, Puri advocated for sustainable tourism and encouraged the youth to prioritise properties upholding the highest standards of sustainability.

With an optimistic outlook on the hospitality sector, Puri emphasised the evolving preferences of modern travelers and the role of ITC in shaping sustainable and memorable travel experiences. As the company continues to chart its expansion course, all eyes are on potential future endeavors, including a potential entry into the Nepalese market.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Protests drove Nepal’s king off the throne 16 years ago, now they are trying to bring him back

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Sixteen years ago, mass protests in Nepal forced then-King Gyanendra Shah to give up the throne and clear the way for a republic. Now, a new wave of protest is trying to bring him back.

The capital of the Himalayan country is again teeming with demonstrators, this time demanding that Shah be reinstated as king and Hinduism brought back as a state religion. Royalist groups accuse the country’s major political parties of corruption and failed governance and say people are frustrated with politicians.

“Come back king, save the country. Long live our beloved king. We want a monarchy,” the crowd chanted at a rally last month in Kathmandu.

Growing frustration with the present system has led to calls for radical change. Pro-monarchy rallies have been growing larger, and an increasing number of homes and businesses are displaying portraits of the ex-king and his ancestors.

Gyanendra was a constitutional head of state without executive or political powers until 2005, when he seized absolute power. He disbanded the government and parliament, jailed politicians and journalists and cut off communications, declaring a state of emergency and using the army to rule the country.

Protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people forced him to give up power to the parliament in 2006, and two years later parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and Gyanendra left the Royal Palace to live the life of a commoner.

But many Nepalis have grown frustrated with the republic, saying it has failed to bring about political stability and blaming it for a struggling economy and widespread corruption. Nepal has had 13 governments since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

Many Nepalis believe elected politicians are more interested in power and patronage than addressing their problems, said Dhruba Hari Adhikary, an independent analyst based in Kathmandu. “That’s why some people started to think that, well, it was far better under the monarchy,” he said.

In November, tens of thousands rallied in support of the king in Kathmandu, where riot police officers used batons and tear gas to halt them from marching to the centre of the capital.

Kings were long considered reincarnations of the god Vishnu in the majority-Hindu nation.

“The king is the umbrella that is really needed to block and protect (the country) from all the pressure and influence that is being put on Nepal by countries like India, China or America,” said Rudra Raj Pandey, who was among the protesters at last month’s rally.

“Our country will retain its values and identity only if it is turned back to a monarchy and the king is reinstated to the throne,” he said.

But the movement is too small to prevail any time soon, Adhikary said.

With polls and surveys rarely conducted in Nepal, it’s not clear how many people support the monarchy. Gyanendra was an unpopular king, but the monarchy remained broadly popular before he seized absolute power.

The country’s major political parties have rejected the possibility of the king returning to power.

“Nepal is a republic and the monarchy will never be reinstated,” said Narayan Prakash Saud of Nepali Congress, which led the revolt against the kind in 2006 and is currently the largest party in parliament. “The only way it would be possible would be through changing the constitution, but there is no possibility of that happening at all.”

The most powerful group supporting restoration of the monarchy is the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, or national democratic party, which was founded in the 1990s by allies of the monarchy. It has 14 seats in parliament — around 5% — but wields outsize influence as a representative of the protest movement.

Party leaders met with the prime minister in February and presented their demands.

“I think it is very possible and the environment throughout the country has never been so congenial for this agenda,” said Rabindra Mishra, deputy chairman of the party.

“If we can’t restore the institution of the monarchy in this country, there is no future for the youth in this country and the existence of this country itself could be at risk,” he said.

Gyanendra himself hasn’t commented on the movement. He has stayed out of open involvement in politics since his abdication, and only rarely makes public appearances.

Other groups supporting the king have sprung up.

“We need a monarchy. Without a king, we have no identity as Nepalese and all of us might as well just declare ourselves as refugees,” said Pasupathi Khadga, who leads a youth organization that supports the reinstatement of the monarchy.

Nepal’s monarchy did not allow political parties to form until 1990, when a pro-democracy movement brought in elections and reduced the monarchy to a ceremonial role. Gyanendra became king after his elder brother, then-King Birendra, and his family were killed in a massacre at the royal palace in 2001.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

UPI now accepted in Nepal: How it works and key details

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Fonepay Payment Service, Nepal’s largest payment network, have announced that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is now live for cross-border transactions between India and Nepal.

Following the event at Global Fintech Fest 2023 in India in September, both entities are now fully operational and ready to facilitate QR-code-based person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions between the two countries, NIPL said.

In its first phase, this partnership will enable Indian consumers to make instant, secure and convenient UPI payments across various business stores in Nepal by using UPI-enabled Apps.

Merchants acquired by the participating members of Fonepay Network can accept UPI payments from Indian customers.

Speaking on the development, Ritesh Shukla, Chief Executive Officer of NIPL, said “We envision this partnership as a catalyst for greater financial inclusion and economic prosperity in the region, and we are excited to embark on this journey of transformation together.”

Expressing his confidence in the transformative impact of this innovative service, Chief Executive Officer of Fonepay, Diwas Kumar said, “I am confident that this cross-border payment solution will significantly improve economic ties, commerce, and tourism between the two nations, eventually promoting economic prosperity and progress.”

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India is top inbound tourist market for Nepal in February 2024

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India has emerged as Nepal’s primary inbound tourist market in February, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) announced on March 2, signalling a gradual recovery for the tourism sector in the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Out of the total 97,426 tourists that arrived in the country via air route last month, 25,578 were from India, making it the leading source of inbound tourism. China followed with 9,180 visitors, and the US came in third with 9,089 visitors, according to the data.

Thailand secured the fourth position with 4,799 inbound visitors, while the UK and Bangladesh ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, with 4,571 and 4,099 tourists each. Mani Lamichhane, Director of the NTB, noted that although the data reported over 25,000 Indian visitors in February, the actual number is likely higher due to a significant number of tourists arriving from India via land routes.

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In January, Nepal welcomed 18,041 visitors from India. The number of tourists arriving by air in Nepal in February marked a 33% increase from February 2023, when 73,255 visitors arrived. Compared to February 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw 102,423 tourist arrivals, the recovery rate was 95.12%, the NTB reported.

NTB Director Lamichhane expressed optimism about the recovery of Nepal’s tourism sector in 2024, citing the positive trend indicated by the February data. With the onset of the tourism season in March, he anticipates a significant increase in the number of visitor numbers next month.

In the first six months of 2023, Nepal also registered a significant increase in number of Indian tourists as 1,68,000 tourists from across the border visited the country by air compared to 97,313 visitors during the same period in 2022, official data showed.

Recently, Nepal announced that it would host its inaugural tourism conference aimed at showcasing the country as a secure and appealing destination for travellers from the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed ‘Yatra 2 Happiness: First Rainbow Tourism International Conference‘, the two-day event is scheduled to be held on April 20-21 in Kathmandu.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

RBI, Nepal Rastra Bank ink pact to integrate UPI and NPI for cross-border remittances

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In a significant move towards enhancing financial connectivity between India and Nepal, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Thursday (February 15) have inked an agreement to integrate their fast payment systems.

“Reserve Bank of India and Nepal Rastra Bank today signed and exchanged Terms of Reference for integration of fast payment systems of India and Nepal, viz, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal, respectively,” the RBI said.

The agreement focuses on linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI), aimed at facilitating seamless cross-border remittances. The terms of reference were signed and exchanged between RBI and NRB, laying the groundwork for the integration of these fast payment systems.

Once implemented, users of both UPI and NPI will be able to conduct instant and low-cost fund transfers between the two countries, fostering greater financial inclusivity and efficiency.

“The collaboration between India and Nepal in linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI linkage will further deepen financial connectivity and reinforce the enduring historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries,” the RBI said.

“Based on the Terms of Reference exchanged between RBI and NRB, the necessary systems will be put in place for interlinking of UPI and NPI. The formal launch of the linkage i.e., the commencement of operations will be done at a later date,” the central bank added.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow