It is no longer a secret that the law and order situation of Nepal has taken a serious beating in the past couple of years but an undisclosed Nepal Police report, which reveals that there are about 10,000 illegal small arms just inside the capital city, clearly suggests that things are worse than we might have so far imagined it to be. The fact that those using these arms include the Maoists’ Young Communist League and CPN-UML’s Youth Force is also a clear indication that the line between politics and crime is gradually blurring in the country.
The Nepal Police report throws some interesting insights. It mentions the names of the top places within the valley’s three districts – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – where the transaction of these illegal arms takes place. The report further reveals that the arms are mostly used for robbery, extortion and kidnapping. Besides political groups, the report says that those prone to use illegal arms include business people, those in the entertainment business, contractors, owners of manpower companies, realtors, among others. After having such incisive leads, it would be an utter shame if the police is not able to do something in the days ahead to curtail this trade and bring the offenders to book. We expect nothing less.
It is clear from the report that if the problem has to be nipped at the bud, then we must have a tighter monitoring mechanism at our borders because most of these arms make it to Nepal from the nearby Indian towns of Raxaul, Louki, Mujjafarpur, Jogbani, Lucknow, Sunouli, Banbasa and Gourifanda. Since a Nepali society minus criminal activities is also in India’s interest considering that we share a 1,800km-long border with it, both Nepal and India must work in tandem to jointly address this issue. We urge the two sides to sit together and discuss this problem and find working solutions to it.
Due to prolonged political crisis resulting in a pathetic law and order situation, we have today reached a situation where no one stands to gain. Well-off people keep arms at their disposal because they can no longer trust the state’s security apparatus. But they are doing this violating the laws of the land. Common people who carry on with their daily lives with utmost honesty have to ironically live in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Something surely is terribly wrong, and it has to be righted without any further delay. The government must not only confiscate all the illegal small arms but must make utmost use of the cues that is has so painfully gathered and put a full stop to this illegal business once and for all.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22250
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
स्वास्थ्य बिमा ३ प्रतिशत
सुदर्शन सापकोटा, काठमाडौं, साउन ३०- - मृगौला रोगबाट थलिएकी श्रीमतीको उपचार गराउन नसक्दा बाग्लुङका तुलबहादुर पुनले गएको शनिवार अस्पतालमै आत्महत्या गरे।
- गुल्मी घमिर गाविस-२ का ३६ वर्षे लोकबहादुर कार्कीले यही जेठ २४ गते आत्महत्या गरे। छारे रोगका बिरामी कार्की ऋण काढेर उपचार गराइरहेका थिए। आर्थिक समस्याले खर्च धान्न नसकेपछि झुन्डिए।
- रुकुमको भलाक्चा-१ बस्ने ओली परिवारले सामूहिक आत्महत्या गर्नुमा पनि उपचार खर्चको अभावै मुख्य कारण थियो। छारे रोगबाट पीडित २७ वर्षे छोरी तुलसालाई स्वस्थ बनाउने सारा प्रयास विफल भएपछि बाबु दलबहादुर र आमा कलीले फागुन ३ गते छोरीसहित आत्महत्याको बाटो रोजे।
- सोलुखुम्बु, काँकु-२ की २६ वर्षे सुविला राईको दुवै मृगौला बिग्रिएको छ। उनले राष्ट्रिय मृगौला केन्द्र वनस्थलीमा महंगो प्रविधिको डाइलसिस उपचार गराइरहेकी छन्। थप उपचार गर्न आर्थिक अवस्था नभएको भन्दै उनले पत्रिकामार्फत् आर्थिक सहयोगको याचना गरेकी छन्।
उपचार खर्च थेग्न नसक्दा आत्महत्या गर्ने, र सहयोग याचना गर्ने माथिल्ला घटनाले स्वास्थ्य सेवा सर्वसाधारणको क्षमताभन्दा महंगो हुँदै गएको तथ्य उजागर गर्छ।
यही समस्यासँग जुध्न विकसित देशहरूले सरकारी स्तरमै 'स्वास्थ्य बिमा' कार्यक्रम ल्याएका छन्। नेपालमा भने यस्तो कार्यक्रम छैन। गत आर्थिक बर्षको बजेटमा स्वास्थ बिमा कार्यक्रमलाई समेटिए पनि कार्यान्वयनमा आउन सकेन।
स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्ने उद्देश्य बोकेर स्थापना भएका सरकारी तथा निजी क्षेत्रका बिमा कम्पनीले पनि यसमा चासो देखाएका छैनन्। सर्वसाधारणको दैनिक जीवन र आर्थिक भारसँग प्रत्यक्ष सरोकार राख्ने यस्तो बिमा गर्न तपाई बिमा कम्पनी जानु भयो भने खाली हात फर्कनु पर्छ।
बिमा कम्पनीहरूले संगठित रूपमा आउने समूहलाई मात्र स्वास्थ्य बिमा पोलिसी बेच्छन्। उदाहरणका लागि, तपाईं कुनै अफिसको कर्मचारी हुनुहुन्छ भने त्यो अफिसले संगठित रूपमा आफ्ना कर्मचारीको स्वास्थ्य बिमा गराउनसक्छ। तर, तपाईंले आफू र आफ्नो परिवारका सदस्यको व्यक्तिगत स्वास्थ्य बिमा गराउन पाउनुहुन्न।
नेपालमा स्वास्थ्य तथा दुर्घटना बिमा गराउनेको संख्या कम हुनुको मुख्य कारण यही हो। बिमा कम्पनीहरुका अनुसार सबै किसिमका गैरजीवन बिमा कारोबारमध्ये स्वास्थ्य बिमाले ३ प्रतिशतमात्र हिस्सा ओगटेको छ। पाँच वर्षअघि ६ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी हिस्सा ओगटेको थियो।
केही समयअघि स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्दै आएको सरकारी स्वामित्वको राष्ट्रि बिमा संस्थानले अहिले यस्तो बिमा गर्न छाडेको छ। 'धेरै नै घाटा हुने भएकाले छाडेका हौं,' संस्थानका मूख्य प्रशासक विनोद अर्यालले भने, 'यसलाई पुनः सुरु गर्ने बारेमा सोचिरहेका छौं।' संस्थानले संगठित रुपमा आएका २८ संस्थाका कर्मचारीको भने स्वास्थ्य बिमा गरिरहेको छ। निजी क्षेत्रका कम्पनीहरुले स्वास्थ्य बिमा योजना राखेका छन् तर गरेका छैनन्।
'बिमा गराएको व्यक्ति तथा परिवारले चिकित्सकलाई आफ्नो प्रभावमा पारेर खर्च भएभन्दा बढीको बिल देखाउँदै बढी रकम दाबी गर्छन्, संस्थानका अर्यालले भने, 'यसो हुँदा बिमा कम्पनीहरूले बेहोर्नुपर्ने आर्थिक दायित्व धानिनसक्नु हुन्छ।'
बिमा कम्पनीहरुले आफ्नो पुरानो तथा ठूलो 'विजिनेस डिल' भएका कम्पनीका कर्मचारीहरुको मात्र स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्ने गरेका छन्। 'अरु विजनेस लिनका लागि सँगसँगै स्वास्थ्य बिमा गरिदिएका हौं,' एभरेष्ट जनरल इन्स्योरेन्सका महाप्रबन्धक केवलकृष्ण श्रेष्ठले मंगलवार नागरिकसँग भने, 'यो वाइ वान गेट वान फ्रि (एउटा किन्दा अर्को निशुल्क) जस्तै हो।' उनले स्वास्थ्य बिमा कार्यक्रम सर्वसाधारणसम्म लैजाँदा कम्पनी नै टाँट पल्टिने अवस्था आउने भएकाले नगरिएको बताए।
बिमा कम्पनीहरुको नियमन निकाय बिमा समितिका प्रबक्ता शेखरकुमार अर्यालले स्वास्थ्य बिमालाई सर्वसाधारसम्म पुर्याउन थुप्रै व्यवहारिक कठिनाइ भएको बताए। 'यो आवश्यक छ,' उनले भने, 'तर व्यवहारिक कठिनाइ छन्।'
'मान्छे इमानदार नभइन्जेल स्वास्थ्य बिमा तल्लो तहसम्म पुर्याउन कठिन छ,' श्रेष्ठले भने, 'भएको खर्चभन्दा बढी रकम दाबी गर्न थालेपछि स्वास्थ्य बिमालाई प्राथमिकतामा राख्नै छाडेका छौं।'
नेपालमा स्वास्थ्य बिमा रकम दावी माथि अनुसन्धान गर्ने तेस्रो पक्ष प्रशासक (टिपिए) नभएकाले पनि सर्वसाधारणसम्म पुग्न कठिन भएको बिमा कम्पनीका अधिकारीहरु बताउँछन्। टिपिएले परेको दावीमाथि स्वतन्त्र अनुसन्धान गरी त्यसको रिपोर्ट सम्वन्धित कम्पनीहरुलाई दिन्छ। त्यसपछि मात्र कम्पनीले दावी रकम भुक्तानी दिने काम गर्छ। यस्तो टिपिए भारतमा पनि ३ वटा मात्र छन्।
श्रेष्ठले बढी दाबी गर्नेलाई कारबाही गर्ने संयन्त्र निर्माण भए तल्लो तहसम्म गएर यसलाई सर्वसुलभ गराउन कुनै कठिनाइ नहुने बताए।
'गैरजीवन बिमा कम्पनीका रुपमा स्वीकृति लिएपछि स्वास्थ्यको पनि बिमा गर्नु पर्छ,' एक बिमा कम्पनीका प्रमुख कार्यकारीले मंगलवार नागरिकसँग भने, 'तर व्यवहारिक रुपमा स्वास्थ्य बिमा घाटामा जाने व्यापार भएकाले प्रचारमा नल्याइएको हो।'
सरकारी स्वामित्वको राष्ट्रिय बिमा संस्थान र १५ निजी बिमा कम्पनीले औषधि उपचार तथा दुर्घटना बिमा पोलिसी बेच्दै आएका छन्। यो पोलिसीअन्तर्गत सामान्य स्वास्थ्य जाँच, दीर्घरोग, साधारण तथा विशेष शल्यक्रिया, दुर्घटनालगायत पर्छन्। यस्तो बिमा गर्नेले अस्पतालको कोठा शुल्क, अप्रेसन थिएटर शुल्क, अप्रेसन शुल्क, औषधि तथा इन्जेक्सनलगायत सुविधा पाउँछन्।
स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्न वार्षिक एक हजारदेखि ६ हजार रुपैयाँसम्म बिमा शुल्क बुझाए पुग्छ। त्यो अवधिमा बिरामी नपरे पनि बिमाबापत बुझाएको पैसा फिर्ता हुँदैन। बिरामी परेपछि भने अस्पतालमा बस्दादेखि पूर्णस्वस्थ नभइन्जेल लाग्ने सबै खर्च सम्बन्धित बिमा कम्पनीबाट बेहोरिन्छ। त्यो पनि न्युनतम बिमा शुल्कबाट।
Source: http://www.nagariknews.com/economy/industries/17001-2010-08-15-04-14-14.html
- गुल्मी घमिर गाविस-२ का ३६ वर्षे लोकबहादुर कार्कीले यही जेठ २४ गते आत्महत्या गरे। छारे रोगका बिरामी कार्की ऋण काढेर उपचार गराइरहेका थिए। आर्थिक समस्याले खर्च धान्न नसकेपछि झुन्डिए।
- रुकुमको भलाक्चा-१ बस्ने ओली परिवारले सामूहिक आत्महत्या गर्नुमा पनि उपचार खर्चको अभावै मुख्य कारण थियो। छारे रोगबाट पीडित २७ वर्षे छोरी तुलसालाई स्वस्थ बनाउने सारा प्रयास विफल भएपछि बाबु दलबहादुर र आमा कलीले फागुन ३ गते छोरीसहित आत्महत्याको बाटो रोजे।
- सोलुखुम्बु, काँकु-२ की २६ वर्षे सुविला राईको दुवै मृगौला बिग्रिएको छ। उनले राष्ट्रिय मृगौला केन्द्र वनस्थलीमा महंगो प्रविधिको डाइलसिस उपचार गराइरहेकी छन्। थप उपचार गर्न आर्थिक अवस्था नभएको भन्दै उनले पत्रिकामार्फत् आर्थिक सहयोगको याचना गरेकी छन्।
उपचार खर्च थेग्न नसक्दा आत्महत्या गर्ने, र सहयोग याचना गर्ने माथिल्ला घटनाले स्वास्थ्य सेवा सर्वसाधारणको क्षमताभन्दा महंगो हुँदै गएको तथ्य उजागर गर्छ।
यही समस्यासँग जुध्न विकसित देशहरूले सरकारी स्तरमै 'स्वास्थ्य बिमा' कार्यक्रम ल्याएका छन्। नेपालमा भने यस्तो कार्यक्रम छैन। गत आर्थिक बर्षको बजेटमा स्वास्थ बिमा कार्यक्रमलाई समेटिए पनि कार्यान्वयनमा आउन सकेन।
स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्ने उद्देश्य बोकेर स्थापना भएका सरकारी तथा निजी क्षेत्रका बिमा कम्पनीले पनि यसमा चासो देखाएका छैनन्। सर्वसाधारणको दैनिक जीवन र आर्थिक भारसँग प्रत्यक्ष सरोकार राख्ने यस्तो बिमा गर्न तपाई बिमा कम्पनी जानु भयो भने खाली हात फर्कनु पर्छ।
बिमा कम्पनीहरूले संगठित रूपमा आउने समूहलाई मात्र स्वास्थ्य बिमा पोलिसी बेच्छन्। उदाहरणका लागि, तपाईं कुनै अफिसको कर्मचारी हुनुहुन्छ भने त्यो अफिसले संगठित रूपमा आफ्ना कर्मचारीको स्वास्थ्य बिमा गराउनसक्छ। तर, तपाईंले आफू र आफ्नो परिवारका सदस्यको व्यक्तिगत स्वास्थ्य बिमा गराउन पाउनुहुन्न।
नेपालमा स्वास्थ्य तथा दुर्घटना बिमा गराउनेको संख्या कम हुनुको मुख्य कारण यही हो। बिमा कम्पनीहरुका अनुसार सबै किसिमका गैरजीवन बिमा कारोबारमध्ये स्वास्थ्य बिमाले ३ प्रतिशतमात्र हिस्सा ओगटेको छ। पाँच वर्षअघि ६ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी हिस्सा ओगटेको थियो।
केही समयअघि स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्दै आएको सरकारी स्वामित्वको राष्ट्रि बिमा संस्थानले अहिले यस्तो बिमा गर्न छाडेको छ। 'धेरै नै घाटा हुने भएकाले छाडेका हौं,' संस्थानका मूख्य प्रशासक विनोद अर्यालले भने, 'यसलाई पुनः सुरु गर्ने बारेमा सोचिरहेका छौं।' संस्थानले संगठित रुपमा आएका २८ संस्थाका कर्मचारीको भने स्वास्थ्य बिमा गरिरहेको छ। निजी क्षेत्रका कम्पनीहरुले स्वास्थ्य बिमा योजना राखेका छन् तर गरेका छैनन्।
'बिमा गराएको व्यक्ति तथा परिवारले चिकित्सकलाई आफ्नो प्रभावमा पारेर खर्च भएभन्दा बढीको बिल देखाउँदै बढी रकम दाबी गर्छन्, संस्थानका अर्यालले भने, 'यसो हुँदा बिमा कम्पनीहरूले बेहोर्नुपर्ने आर्थिक दायित्व धानिनसक्नु हुन्छ।'
बिमा कम्पनीहरुले आफ्नो पुरानो तथा ठूलो 'विजिनेस डिल' भएका कम्पनीका कर्मचारीहरुको मात्र स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्ने गरेका छन्। 'अरु विजनेस लिनका लागि सँगसँगै स्वास्थ्य बिमा गरिदिएका हौं,' एभरेष्ट जनरल इन्स्योरेन्सका महाप्रबन्धक केवलकृष्ण श्रेष्ठले मंगलवार नागरिकसँग भने, 'यो वाइ वान गेट वान फ्रि (एउटा किन्दा अर्को निशुल्क) जस्तै हो।' उनले स्वास्थ्य बिमा कार्यक्रम सर्वसाधारणसम्म लैजाँदा कम्पनी नै टाँट पल्टिने अवस्था आउने भएकाले नगरिएको बताए।
बिमा कम्पनीहरुको नियमन निकाय बिमा समितिका प्रबक्ता शेखरकुमार अर्यालले स्वास्थ्य बिमालाई सर्वसाधारसम्म पुर्याउन थुप्रै व्यवहारिक कठिनाइ भएको बताए। 'यो आवश्यक छ,' उनले भने, 'तर व्यवहारिक कठिनाइ छन्।'
'मान्छे इमानदार नभइन्जेल स्वास्थ्य बिमा तल्लो तहसम्म पुर्याउन कठिन छ,' श्रेष्ठले भने, 'भएको खर्चभन्दा बढी रकम दाबी गर्न थालेपछि स्वास्थ्य बिमालाई प्राथमिकतामा राख्नै छाडेका छौं।'
नेपालमा स्वास्थ्य बिमा रकम दावी माथि अनुसन्धान गर्ने तेस्रो पक्ष प्रशासक (टिपिए) नभएकाले पनि सर्वसाधारणसम्म पुग्न कठिन भएको बिमा कम्पनीका अधिकारीहरु बताउँछन्। टिपिएले परेको दावीमाथि स्वतन्त्र अनुसन्धान गरी त्यसको रिपोर्ट सम्वन्धित कम्पनीहरुलाई दिन्छ। त्यसपछि मात्र कम्पनीले दावी रकम भुक्तानी दिने काम गर्छ। यस्तो टिपिए भारतमा पनि ३ वटा मात्र छन्।
श्रेष्ठले बढी दाबी गर्नेलाई कारबाही गर्ने संयन्त्र निर्माण भए तल्लो तहसम्म गएर यसलाई सर्वसुलभ गराउन कुनै कठिनाइ नहुने बताए।
'गैरजीवन बिमा कम्पनीका रुपमा स्वीकृति लिएपछि स्वास्थ्यको पनि बिमा गर्नु पर्छ,' एक बिमा कम्पनीका प्रमुख कार्यकारीले मंगलवार नागरिकसँग भने, 'तर व्यवहारिक रुपमा स्वास्थ्य बिमा घाटामा जाने व्यापार भएकाले प्रचारमा नल्याइएको हो।'
सरकारी स्वामित्वको राष्ट्रिय बिमा संस्थान र १५ निजी बिमा कम्पनीले औषधि उपचार तथा दुर्घटना बिमा पोलिसी बेच्दै आएका छन्। यो पोलिसीअन्तर्गत सामान्य स्वास्थ्य जाँच, दीर्घरोग, साधारण तथा विशेष शल्यक्रिया, दुर्घटनालगायत पर्छन्। यस्तो बिमा गर्नेले अस्पतालको कोठा शुल्क, अप्रेसन थिएटर शुल्क, अप्रेसन शुल्क, औषधि तथा इन्जेक्सनलगायत सुविधा पाउँछन्।
स्वास्थ्य बिमा गर्न वार्षिक एक हजारदेखि ६ हजार रुपैयाँसम्म बिमा शुल्क बुझाए पुग्छ। त्यो अवधिमा बिरामी नपरे पनि बिमाबापत बुझाएको पैसा फिर्ता हुँदैन। बिरामी परेपछि भने अस्पतालमा बस्दादेखि पूर्णस्वस्थ नभइन्जेल लाग्ने सबै खर्च सम्बन्धित बिमा कम्पनीबाट बेहोरिन्छ। त्यो पनि न्युनतम बिमा शुल्कबाट।
Source: http://www.nagariknews.com/economy/industries/17001-2010-08-15-04-14-14.html
'Some 10,000 illegal small arms in capital'
KATHMANDU, Aug 15: Nepal Police, for the first time in its history, recently busted a major small arms racket that reportedly imported the weapons from India and retailed them to criminal gangs in the Valley.
The arrest of Sanjaya Gole at Kapan a few days ago allegedly in possession of a 9mm pistol led to the apprehension of Jainuddin Ansari at Jitpurbazar, Bara district on Saturday.
Ansari, a trader in buffalos, would supply small arms to Gole who is based in the capital, police said. Gole reportedly admitted during preliminary interrogations that he had been merchandising pistols for eight years. He is said to have sold at least a dozen pistols to different criminal gangs that he has not named so far.
“Never before had we broken through the surface,” said an official involved in the operation. “We would generally arrest the arms bearers and not investigate further. So the key players would always remain untouched.”
“This is a major achievement,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rana Bahadur Chand, chief of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD). “Reaching through to the weapons suppliers is an arduous task.”
The incident comes at a time when the prevalence of small arms has hugely undermined security in the Valley. Investigative officials with substantial experience in anti-arms operations estimate there are over 10,000 illegal small arms in the country´s most populous city. The seizure by three different police teams of 16 small arms in the last six months only indicates the dangerous state of affairs.
´Capital, haven for small arms´
Republica has gotten hold of a secret Nepal Police report which officials said is the most factual and detailed ever prepared on small arms in the Valley.
The report has a range of facts from the main areas where small arms traffickers congregate to the prominent groups that seem to possess them. It also explains the entire process of small arms import, local prices and general merchandising methods.
Kathmandu has the largest number of illegal small arms compared to neighboring Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The report mentions that ready availability of small arms in the metropolis is directly associated with crime stemming from economic activity, growing population density and a booming entertainment business.
Thamel, Durbarmarg, New Bus Park, Gongabu, Swayambhu and Kalanki top the localities in transactions in small arms. According to the report, Old Bus Park, Koteshwor, Bouddha and Jorpati are other sensitive areas for small arms. In Lalitpur, Mangalbazar, Gwarko, Bagdol, Bhaisepati and Chapagaon see maximum mobility of small arms traders. Lokanthali, Gatthaghar, Surya Binayak and Pandubazar in Bhaktapur have long witnessed the same hazards.
Who keeps small arms?
Facts disclosed by those accused or convicted in small arms cases and uncovered by police themselves show that those possessing small arms are mostly involved in organize crime like robbery, extortion and kidnapping, the report says.
Among others prone to small arms use are underground groups that have political cover but subsist on crime. Many that fled the UCPN (Maoist), political groups that separated from the same party, the Young Communist League (YCL) and CPN (UML)´s Youth Force have also been portrayed in the report as possessing small arms on a large scale.
Business entrepreneurs also keep small arms. Those involved in nighttime entertainment business, contractors, owners of manpower companies, realtors and proprietors of shopping malls have been identified by the report as possessing illegal weapons.
A variety of small arms are available in the capital´s illegal market. Pistols, sixers and katuwa in many calibers--7mm, 9mm, 12mm and 15mm, and six-shot revolvers are mostly to be found. Most are imported from India where the traders easily get them inscribed with any brand name they like.
Import routes
For Kathmandu, Thankot is the key entry point. If the destination is Lalitpur, the unguarded southern belt of the district--especially, Dakshinkali, Luvu, Lele and Chapagaon--is used. To bring small arms to Bhaktapur, they come thorugh Sangabhangyang, Sudal and Nagarkot.
The open, porous border Nepal shares with India has allowed an unchecked inflow of small arms to the southern Tarai and then on to the Valley, the major market.
Investigative officials interviewed by Republica, affirming many points in the report, said there are nine principal routes for bringing small arms from India to Nepal. The routes begin from the Indian towns of Raxul, Louki, Mujjafarpur, Jogbani, Lucknow, Sunouli, Banbasa and Gourifanda, which are close to the Nepal-India border, and cover different distances to reach the Valley.
Officials said small arms are brought into the capital mostly in vehicles ferrying livestock and vegetables. Vehicles that bring grain are also blamed. The report mentions that even ambulances and hearses are found to have carried small arms.
Big bucks
A katuwa easily purchased for Indian rupees 4,000 in India is sold here for anything between Rs 20,000 and 30, 000 (local currency). The report says a sixer costing 10,000 Indians rupees maximum south of the border fetches a comfortable Rs 40,000 when sold in Kathmandu. A pistol could bring in up to Rs 100,000, some 10-20 times the rate in India.
Small arms traders use individual contacts in generally three different steps, officials say. “One person manages to smuggle them across the border, then approaches another who carries them to half-way stations like Hetauda and Chitwan, and finally the third contact takes them to the capital,” said an official.
The report says that the first contacts based in the capital are mostly those with criminal backgrounds. They often deal with clients in public places.
Officials said many traders have even been running their businesses single-handed. But they don´t deal in large quantities.
“We are yet to investigate others connected with the contacts. There could be further layers,” said SSP Chand, referring to the Gole-Ansari racket.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22234
The arrest of Sanjaya Gole at Kapan a few days ago allegedly in possession of a 9mm pistol led to the apprehension of Jainuddin Ansari at Jitpurbazar, Bara district on Saturday.
Ansari, a trader in buffalos, would supply small arms to Gole who is based in the capital, police said. Gole reportedly admitted during preliminary interrogations that he had been merchandising pistols for eight years. He is said to have sold at least a dozen pistols to different criminal gangs that he has not named so far.
“Never before had we broken through the surface,” said an official involved in the operation. “We would generally arrest the arms bearers and not investigate further. So the key players would always remain untouched.”
“This is a major achievement,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rana Bahadur Chand, chief of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD). “Reaching through to the weapons suppliers is an arduous task.”
The incident comes at a time when the prevalence of small arms has hugely undermined security in the Valley. Investigative officials with substantial experience in anti-arms operations estimate there are over 10,000 illegal small arms in the country´s most populous city. The seizure by three different police teams of 16 small arms in the last six months only indicates the dangerous state of affairs.
´Capital, haven for small arms´
Republica has gotten hold of a secret Nepal Police report which officials said is the most factual and detailed ever prepared on small arms in the Valley.
The report has a range of facts from the main areas where small arms traffickers congregate to the prominent groups that seem to possess them. It also explains the entire process of small arms import, local prices and general merchandising methods.
Kathmandu has the largest number of illegal small arms compared to neighboring Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The report mentions that ready availability of small arms in the metropolis is directly associated with crime stemming from economic activity, growing population density and a booming entertainment business.
Thamel, Durbarmarg, New Bus Park, Gongabu, Swayambhu and Kalanki top the localities in transactions in small arms. According to the report, Old Bus Park, Koteshwor, Bouddha and Jorpati are other sensitive areas for small arms. In Lalitpur, Mangalbazar, Gwarko, Bagdol, Bhaisepati and Chapagaon see maximum mobility of small arms traders. Lokanthali, Gatthaghar, Surya Binayak and Pandubazar in Bhaktapur have long witnessed the same hazards.
Who keeps small arms?
Facts disclosed by those accused or convicted in small arms cases and uncovered by police themselves show that those possessing small arms are mostly involved in organize crime like robbery, extortion and kidnapping, the report says.
Among others prone to small arms use are underground groups that have political cover but subsist on crime. Many that fled the UCPN (Maoist), political groups that separated from the same party, the Young Communist League (YCL) and CPN (UML)´s Youth Force have also been portrayed in the report as possessing small arms on a large scale.
Business entrepreneurs also keep small arms. Those involved in nighttime entertainment business, contractors, owners of manpower companies, realtors and proprietors of shopping malls have been identified by the report as possessing illegal weapons.
A variety of small arms are available in the capital´s illegal market. Pistols, sixers and katuwa in many calibers--7mm, 9mm, 12mm and 15mm, and six-shot revolvers are mostly to be found. Most are imported from India where the traders easily get them inscribed with any brand name they like.
Import routes
For Kathmandu, Thankot is the key entry point. If the destination is Lalitpur, the unguarded southern belt of the district--especially, Dakshinkali, Luvu, Lele and Chapagaon--is used. To bring small arms to Bhaktapur, they come thorugh Sangabhangyang, Sudal and Nagarkot.
The open, porous border Nepal shares with India has allowed an unchecked inflow of small arms to the southern Tarai and then on to the Valley, the major market.
Investigative officials interviewed by Republica, affirming many points in the report, said there are nine principal routes for bringing small arms from India to Nepal. The routes begin from the Indian towns of Raxul, Louki, Mujjafarpur, Jogbani, Lucknow, Sunouli, Banbasa and Gourifanda, which are close to the Nepal-India border, and cover different distances to reach the Valley.
Officials said small arms are brought into the capital mostly in vehicles ferrying livestock and vegetables. Vehicles that bring grain are also blamed. The report mentions that even ambulances and hearses are found to have carried small arms.
Big bucks
A katuwa easily purchased for Indian rupees 4,000 in India is sold here for anything between Rs 20,000 and 30, 000 (local currency). The report says a sixer costing 10,000 Indians rupees maximum south of the border fetches a comfortable Rs 40,000 when sold in Kathmandu. A pistol could bring in up to Rs 100,000, some 10-20 times the rate in India.
Small arms traders use individual contacts in generally three different steps, officials say. “One person manages to smuggle them across the border, then approaches another who carries them to half-way stations like Hetauda and Chitwan, and finally the third contact takes them to the capital,” said an official.
The report says that the first contacts based in the capital are mostly those with criminal backgrounds. They often deal with clients in public places.
Officials said many traders have even been running their businesses single-handed. But they don´t deal in large quantities.
“We are yet to investigate others connected with the contacts. There could be further layers,” said SSP Chand, referring to the Gole-Ansari racket.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22234
Saturday, August 14, 2010
NC's changing face: New outnumber old
KATHMANDU, Aug 14: Perhaps for the first time in Nepali Congress history, new faces outnumber old ones among active members, who elect the general convention representatives.
This is bound to bring change in the party, but it is too early to predict the scale and direction of the change. The NC has brought into its fold 182,033 new active members through a membership drive, while only 129,989 old members renewed their memberships.
There is also a manifold increase in the membership of women and people from marginalized groups-- Janajatis, Madhesis and Dalits.
For instance, the number of active women members rose to 51,513. The consolidated figures for Janajati, Madhesi and Dalit members is not immediately available but party insiders say the numbers are "very encouraging".
Another significant change in the grand old party is the increase in youth active members. This has already changed the composition of general convention representatives. Between 20 to 30 percent of general convention representatives are believed to be under 40.
NC, perhaps rightly, is often dubbed a party belonging to old generation leaders. Only eight of its 114 Constituent Assembly members are under 35. NC´s central working committee (CWC) is even older, with an overwhelming majority of members aged over 50.
These number are not at all reassuring when compared to the fact that 150 out of the total 238 Maoist lawmakers are below 35 years.
NC youth leader Gagan Thapa argues that the increase in youth active membership will assist change in the party and drive it towards a new direction. "Since the youths represent a new voice they will help steer the party accordingly," he added.
Because of such dominant presence of youths in the general convention, it is assumed that many youth leaders will be elected to the central committee.
But the presence of new general convention members --youths, Janajatis, Madhesis and women-- has also made the outcome of the general convention uncertain, at least regarding who will be elected party president. This in itself is a change in the NC, where the next party president was often a foregone conclusion long before the general convention took place. For instance, though different candidates challenged the late Girija Prasad Koirala during the last three elections for party president, the final outcome was never uncertain in anybody´s mind.
The NC´s 12th general convention scheduled for September 17-21 holds great significance for the party not only because this is the first convention after the merger of the NC (Democratic) with the NC back in 2008 and the demise of Girija Koirala but also because the convention will elect more new faces to a more inclusive CWC, the ultimate decision-making body of the party.
NC leaders say new faces in the CWC are very likely as a majority of the 2,880 general convention representatives directly elected at local level conventions, out of the total 3,000-plus membership, are less likely to stick to any panel - led either by Sushil Koirala or Sher Bahadur Deuba.
"The current composition of general convention representatives will affect the outcome of the convention but no one knows for sure how things are going to play out when actual voting take place," argued Thapa, adding, "A candidate vying for the post of president must be able to take in party leaders who can bring youths into his fold."
More than anything else, the 12th General Convention will also be remembered for its attempt at inclusiveness. "This is the first time the Nepali Congress has become inclusive of all population groups right from the local level convention," argued NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi. "This will help further democratize the party."
This inclusiveness will also be reflected at the party´s highest decision making body-- the CWC. According to the party statute as amended by the Mahasamiti meeting in Kathmandu last year, there will be a total of 85 members in the party´s CWC. Of the total 65 elected members, the statute has made provisions for electing 12 members from among women, five each from Dalits, indigenous communities and Madhesis and two from the Muslim community.
There are seven women members, including one invitee member, in the present 71-member CWC. Likewise, the number of Dalit members in the CWC is just one.
"There is greater attraction of youths from marginalized communities towards the Nepali Congress as the new provision on reservations made by the party has instilled confidence among them that they would one day make it to leadership positions," argued Radheshyam Adhikari, chief of 12th General Convention Election Committee.
NC GENERAL CONVENTION FACT SHEET
Age Group Percentage
18-35 - 28.29 %
36-65 - 54.93 %
66-80 - 4.55 %
81-above - 0.27 %
Age not known - 11.96 %
Active members
Renewed - 129,989
New - 182,033
Total - 312,022
NC CWC composition
President
General Secretary
Treasurer
25 members (elected directly by general convention)
16 members (nominated by CWC)
14 members (one each from 14 zones)
Seven women (six elected and one nominated by president)
Six dalits (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Aadibasi/Janajatis (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Madhesi (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Two Muslims (one elected and one nominated)
Total: 85 members
(N.B. Elected president will nominate vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary from among the 25 elected CWC members andpParliamentary party leader will be ex-officio member of CWC)
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22201
This is bound to bring change in the party, but it is too early to predict the scale and direction of the change. The NC has brought into its fold 182,033 new active members through a membership drive, while only 129,989 old members renewed their memberships.
There is also a manifold increase in the membership of women and people from marginalized groups-- Janajatis, Madhesis and Dalits.
For instance, the number of active women members rose to 51,513. The consolidated figures for Janajati, Madhesi and Dalit members is not immediately available but party insiders say the numbers are "very encouraging".
Another significant change in the grand old party is the increase in youth active members. This has already changed the composition of general convention representatives. Between 20 to 30 percent of general convention representatives are believed to be under 40.
NC, perhaps rightly, is often dubbed a party belonging to old generation leaders. Only eight of its 114 Constituent Assembly members are under 35. NC´s central working committee (CWC) is even older, with an overwhelming majority of members aged over 50.
These number are not at all reassuring when compared to the fact that 150 out of the total 238 Maoist lawmakers are below 35 years.
NC youth leader Gagan Thapa argues that the increase in youth active membership will assist change in the party and drive it towards a new direction. "Since the youths represent a new voice they will help steer the party accordingly," he added.
Because of such dominant presence of youths in the general convention, it is assumed that many youth leaders will be elected to the central committee.
But the presence of new general convention members --youths, Janajatis, Madhesis and women-- has also made the outcome of the general convention uncertain, at least regarding who will be elected party president. This in itself is a change in the NC, where the next party president was often a foregone conclusion long before the general convention took place. For instance, though different candidates challenged the late Girija Prasad Koirala during the last three elections for party president, the final outcome was never uncertain in anybody´s mind.
The NC´s 12th general convention scheduled for September 17-21 holds great significance for the party not only because this is the first convention after the merger of the NC (Democratic) with the NC back in 2008 and the demise of Girija Koirala but also because the convention will elect more new faces to a more inclusive CWC, the ultimate decision-making body of the party.
NC leaders say new faces in the CWC are very likely as a majority of the 2,880 general convention representatives directly elected at local level conventions, out of the total 3,000-plus membership, are less likely to stick to any panel - led either by Sushil Koirala or Sher Bahadur Deuba.
"The current composition of general convention representatives will affect the outcome of the convention but no one knows for sure how things are going to play out when actual voting take place," argued Thapa, adding, "A candidate vying for the post of president must be able to take in party leaders who can bring youths into his fold."
More than anything else, the 12th General Convention will also be remembered for its attempt at inclusiveness. "This is the first time the Nepali Congress has become inclusive of all population groups right from the local level convention," argued NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi. "This will help further democratize the party."
This inclusiveness will also be reflected at the party´s highest decision making body-- the CWC. According to the party statute as amended by the Mahasamiti meeting in Kathmandu last year, there will be a total of 85 members in the party´s CWC. Of the total 65 elected members, the statute has made provisions for electing 12 members from among women, five each from Dalits, indigenous communities and Madhesis and two from the Muslim community.
There are seven women members, including one invitee member, in the present 71-member CWC. Likewise, the number of Dalit members in the CWC is just one.
"There is greater attraction of youths from marginalized communities towards the Nepali Congress as the new provision on reservations made by the party has instilled confidence among them that they would one day make it to leadership positions," argued Radheshyam Adhikari, chief of 12th General Convention Election Committee.
NC GENERAL CONVENTION FACT SHEET
Age Group Percentage
18-35 - 28.29 %
36-65 - 54.93 %
66-80 - 4.55 %
81-above - 0.27 %
Age not known - 11.96 %
Active members
Renewed - 129,989
New - 182,033
Total - 312,022
NC CWC composition
President
General Secretary
Treasurer
25 members (elected directly by general convention)
16 members (nominated by CWC)
14 members (one each from 14 zones)
Seven women (six elected and one nominated by president)
Six dalits (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Aadibasi/Janajatis (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Madhesi (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Two Muslims (one elected and one nominated)
Total: 85 members
(N.B. Elected president will nominate vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary from among the 25 elected CWC members andpParliamentary party leader will be ex-officio member of CWC)
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22201
Friday, August 13, 2010
Gyanendra meets Upendra, Sarita along with KV Rajan
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Aug 12: Former king Gyanendra Shah held a secret meeting with Chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav and Chairperson of Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandidevi, Sarita Giri at Hotel de l’ Annapurna Thursday.
According to a source, Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal KV Rajan was also present at the gathering which was organized by Ramesh Nath Pandey, who was minister for foreign affairs during the former king’s direct rule.
Escorted by Nepal Army and Armed Police Force personnel, Shah reached the hotel in the afternoon.
Shah, who was seen near the hotel by around 4 pm, stayed for a while inside a boutique run by his niece Sitashma, the source told Republica. Then he entered Hotel de l’ Annapurna.
According to the source, Yadav, accompanied by a few other MPRF leaders, went into the same hotel shortly after Shah reached there. They had their dinner there. The source said both Shah and Yadav’s vehicles were parked on the hotel premises till 10 pm. A large number of security personnel were deployed on the Hotel premises till late night.
KATHMANDU, Aug 12: Former king Gyanendra Shah held a secret meeting with Chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav and Chairperson of Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandidevi, Sarita Giri at Hotel de l’ Annapurna Thursday.
According to a source, Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal KV Rajan was also present at the gathering which was organized by Ramesh Nath Pandey, who was minister for foreign affairs during the former king’s direct rule.
Escorted by Nepal Army and Armed Police Force personnel, Shah reached the hotel in the afternoon.
Shah, who was seen near the hotel by around 4 pm, stayed for a while inside a boutique run by his niece Sitashma, the source told Republica. Then he entered Hotel de l’ Annapurna.
According to the source, Yadav, accompanied by a few other MPRF leaders, went into the same hotel shortly after Shah reached there. They had their dinner there. The source said both Shah and Yadav’s vehicles were parked on the hotel premises till 10 pm. A large number of security personnel were deployed on the Hotel premises till late night.
Saran to 'get back' to Maoists
KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Shyam Saran, who recently visited Nepal as a special envoy of the Indian government, is getting back to the Maoist leadership after reporting to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress-I President Sonia Gandhi about his talks with top Nepali leaders during the visit.
"Saran said he will get back to us with the response of Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister Singh regarding our views which we put forth during talks with him," a politburo member of UCPN (Maoist) quoted party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as saying during a central committee meeting held at the party head office in Kathmandu Thursday.
According to him, Saran had suggested to the Maoist leaders to join the mainstream politics of the country while the Maoists replied that they were not ready to opt for that without effecting changes in the conventional politics of the country.
"Being such a massive political force, you [Maoists] should join the mainstream politics of the country. Sometimes it seems that you are not [headed] in that direction," Dahal quoted Saran as saying. "But we told him that we are not going to join conventional mainstream politics, but rather the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML should agree to the new mainstream political system that we have established," Dahal told CC members as replying to the Indian envoy. According to him, Saran finally pledged to communicate to the Maoist leaders about the response of the top Indian leadership including Gandhi and Singh. The Maoist chairman informed his comrades that they held talks with Saran as he was one of those involved while forging several political deals including the 12-point agreement.
During the over hour-long briefing to CC members he mainly focused on the initiatives taken by the party in government formation, inter-party dialogues and talks with the special envoy of the Indian government.
Maoists ready to withdraw PM candidacy if NC does so too
The Maoist leaders said that the party was ready to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy if the NC also agreed to do so.
“We are always in favor of forming a national consensus government,” Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha told reporters after a meeting with UML leaders at Singha Durbar. “We are ready to hold open discussions on the option of withdrawing candidacy.”
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said they urged the Maoists to pull out of the race that has yielded no result even after holding four rounds of voting. "We requested them to stop this series of votings and pave the way for the formation of a national consensus government," Khanal said.
According to him, UML leaders will now try to convince NC leaders over the option as the Maoist leadership is positive towards it. Dahal and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel are in the race for prime minister.
Dahal led the Maoist team and Khanal led the UML leaders during the bilateral meeting.
Bhattarai met Saran through consent: Dahal
Dahal at the CC meeting tried to douse the controversy surrounding party Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai´s separate meeting with Saran, telling the CC members that Bhattarai had his consent.
"Whatever we have heard in public holds no meaning as whichever among us -- Dahal or Bhattarai -- held meetings with the Indian envoy, did so as per consultations and decisions taken," the politburo member quoted Dahal as saying.
A serious controversy had suddenly flared up after Maoist secretariat member Barsa Man Pun and other leaders criticized Bhattarai for holding a separate meeting with Saran. Bhattarai and leaders loyal to him had strongly reacted against that.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22162
"Saran said he will get back to us with the response of Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister Singh regarding our views which we put forth during talks with him," a politburo member of UCPN (Maoist) quoted party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as saying during a central committee meeting held at the party head office in Kathmandu Thursday.
According to him, Saran had suggested to the Maoist leaders to join the mainstream politics of the country while the Maoists replied that they were not ready to opt for that without effecting changes in the conventional politics of the country.
"Being such a massive political force, you [Maoists] should join the mainstream politics of the country. Sometimes it seems that you are not [headed] in that direction," Dahal quoted Saran as saying. "But we told him that we are not going to join conventional mainstream politics, but rather the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML should agree to the new mainstream political system that we have established," Dahal told CC members as replying to the Indian envoy. According to him, Saran finally pledged to communicate to the Maoist leaders about the response of the top Indian leadership including Gandhi and Singh. The Maoist chairman informed his comrades that they held talks with Saran as he was one of those involved while forging several political deals including the 12-point agreement.
During the over hour-long briefing to CC members he mainly focused on the initiatives taken by the party in government formation, inter-party dialogues and talks with the special envoy of the Indian government.
Maoists ready to withdraw PM candidacy if NC does so too
The Maoist leaders said that the party was ready to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy if the NC also agreed to do so.
“We are always in favor of forming a national consensus government,” Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha told reporters after a meeting with UML leaders at Singha Durbar. “We are ready to hold open discussions on the option of withdrawing candidacy.”
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said they urged the Maoists to pull out of the race that has yielded no result even after holding four rounds of voting. "We requested them to stop this series of votings and pave the way for the formation of a national consensus government," Khanal said.
According to him, UML leaders will now try to convince NC leaders over the option as the Maoist leadership is positive towards it. Dahal and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel are in the race for prime minister.
Dahal led the Maoist team and Khanal led the UML leaders during the bilateral meeting.
Bhattarai met Saran through consent: Dahal
Dahal at the CC meeting tried to douse the controversy surrounding party Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai´s separate meeting with Saran, telling the CC members that Bhattarai had his consent.
"Whatever we have heard in public holds no meaning as whichever among us -- Dahal or Bhattarai -- held meetings with the Indian envoy, did so as per consultations and decisions taken," the politburo member quoted Dahal as saying.
A serious controversy had suddenly flared up after Maoist secretariat member Barsa Man Pun and other leaders criticized Bhattarai for holding a separate meeting with Saran. Bhattarai and leaders loyal to him had strongly reacted against that.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22162
Thursday, August 12, 2010
We won't allow bonus distribution: NOC Chair
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Aug 11: Commerce Secretary and Chairman of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Purushottam Ojha has announced that the corporation board will not allow NOC -- reeling under hefty accumulated loss and debt -- to distribute bonus to staffs.
We will not let distribution of bonus now, Ojha said Wednesday, referring to the instruction of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which on Monday re-instructed the government not to allow distribution of bonus in public enterprise (PEs) suffering under accumulated loss.
NOC presently has accumulated loss of some Rs 8 billion and loans exceeding Rs 11.5 billion to settle to the government and financial institutions. Based on the government and CIAA´s earlier instruction, NOC board about three weeks ago had decided to halt distribution of bonus in the petroleum monopoly that earned profit after a gap of seven years in 2008/09.
After the two trade unions at the corporation announced protest against the management, NOC board scrapped its decision and agreed to decide on bonus as per existing laws.
“Our statement to take decision on bonus as per the laws does not mean NOC has been granted permission to distribute bonus,” Ojha said.
However, the Supreme Court´s verdict in favor of bonus on a similar case filed by Rastriya Banjiya Bank has set a precedent that staffs are entitled to bonus when the enterprise makes profit in a particular year, even if it is in accumulated loss.
“The instructions of CIAA are binding for us. Hence, as it has asked us not to let NOC workers walk away with bonus, we will act accordingly,” said Ojha.
Talking to media persons, Ojha further said that Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has already directed all PEs placed under it, including NOC, to strictly adhere to CIAA´s instructions.
KATHMANDU, Aug 11: Commerce Secretary and Chairman of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Purushottam Ojha has announced that the corporation board will not allow NOC -- reeling under hefty accumulated loss and debt -- to distribute bonus to staffs.
We will not let distribution of bonus now, Ojha said Wednesday, referring to the instruction of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which on Monday re-instructed the government not to allow distribution of bonus in public enterprise (PEs) suffering under accumulated loss.
NOC presently has accumulated loss of some Rs 8 billion and loans exceeding Rs 11.5 billion to settle to the government and financial institutions. Based on the government and CIAA´s earlier instruction, NOC board about three weeks ago had decided to halt distribution of bonus in the petroleum monopoly that earned profit after a gap of seven years in 2008/09.
After the two trade unions at the corporation announced protest against the management, NOC board scrapped its decision and agreed to decide on bonus as per existing laws.
“Our statement to take decision on bonus as per the laws does not mean NOC has been granted permission to distribute bonus,” Ojha said.
However, the Supreme Court´s verdict in favor of bonus on a similar case filed by Rastriya Banjiya Bank has set a precedent that staffs are entitled to bonus when the enterprise makes profit in a particular year, even if it is in accumulated loss.
“The instructions of CIAA are binding for us. Hence, as it has asked us not to let NOC workers walk away with bonus, we will act accordingly,” said Ojha.
Talking to media persons, Ojha further said that Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has already directed all PEs placed under it, including NOC, to strictly adhere to CIAA´s instructions.
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