Shirish B Pradhan

Stories by Shirish B Pradhan

Nepal revokes Army Chief's sacking

Nepal revokes Army Chief's sacking

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2009

Nepal's coalition cabinet headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has scrapped the erstwhile Maoists-led government's controversial decision to remove the army chief Geneeral Rookmangud Katawal. The cabinet in its meeting on Thursday nullified the Maoists-led government's decision.

Nepal ruling coalition reaches power-sharing deal

Nepal ruling coalition reaches power-sharing deal

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2009

In a major breakthrough, Nepal's ruling coalition partners on Saturday sorted out the vexed issue of portfolio distribution and power sharing after they 'tentatively agreed to a deal' to give the 20-day-old Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist government a "full shape" by Sunday.

India trying to restore Nepal monarchy: Prachanda

India trying to restore Nepal monarchy: Prachanda

Rediff.com   30 May 2009

Stepping up his anti-India rhetoric, Maoist supremo Prachanda has accused it of backing a 'conspiracy' to restore monarchy in Nepal, which had turned into a republic from a kingdom just a year ago. Prachanda, who quit as premier after a dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the issue of sacking of the army chief, said the present Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) -led government is 'just a puppet' and efforts are on to 'murder the infant republic'.

'I wanted to dance on the Everest'

'I wanted to dance on the Everest'

Rediff.com   30 May 2009

"I was very proud to be on the tallest point of the earth," this was how Krushnaa Patil described her feelings after becoming the youngest Indian women to scale the Mount Everest. Patil, 19, a first year student from Pune, achieved the feat on May 21 as part of the Eco Everest Expedition 2009. "I felt like dancing on the Everest, but I didn't," said Patil.

Madhav Nepal sworn-in as Nepal PM

Madhav Nepal sworn-in as Nepal PM

Rediff.com   25 May 2009

Madhav Kumar Nepal was sworn-in on Monday as the Prime Minister of Nepal along with two cabinet ministers, capping the three-week long political crisis in the country that eased Maoists out of power after a confrontation with the army.

Madhav Kumar Nepal elected new Nepal PM

Madhav Kumar Nepal elected new Nepal PM

Rediff.com   23 May 2009

Veteran Communist leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was on Saturday elected unopposed as the prime minister of Nepal, bringing to an end the nearly three-week long political crisis in the country. The 56-year-old Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) leader, who claims to have the support of 351 lawmakers in the 601-member Constituent Assembly, was the only candidate to have filed the nomination for the top post. The Maoists boycotted the voting process.

India denied support to my government:Prachanda

India denied support to my government:Prachanda

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Maoist supremo Prachanda on Wednesday said that his party will not tolerate 'any kind of interference' in the internal affairs of Nepal from 'any part of the world'. He also accused India of 'breaking the politics of consensus' in the country. Addressing his first press conference after resigning as premier, he also dubbed a videotape, purportedly showing him boasting about making a false claim about the strength of Maoist combatants, as a 'conspiracy' against peace process.

Crisis in Nepal over Army chief's sacking

Crisis in Nepal over Army chief's sacking

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav has directed Army Chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal, sacked by Prime Minister Prachanda, to continue in office in a face-off between the two leaders that threatens to escalate the political crisis and derail the peace process.

Indian tour not to oust Maoists: Koirala

Indian tour not to oust Maoists: Koirala

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2009

Nepalese opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala has asked Prime Minister Prachanda to run the government with consensus of all the stakeholders, and said his talks with the Indian leaders revolved around this and dismissed reports that he sought New Delhi's help to oust the Maoists-led ministry.

Maoists' army begins recruitment

Maoists' army begins recruitment

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2009

The Nepal Maoists on Tuesday began a process for fresh recruitment to its guerrilla force to counter the move of the national army to fill vacancies, a decision that threatens to derail the fragile peace process in the Himalayan nation.

Attack forces Lankan prez to prune Nepal visit

Attack forces Lankan prez to prune Nepal visit

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2009

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to cut short his visit to Nepal in the wake of Tuesday's terror attack on his country's cricketers in Pakistan, after inking two agreements with the country

Nepal won't sack Indian priests at Pashupatinath

Nepal won't sack Indian priests at Pashupatinath

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2009

Bowing to intense pressure from Hindu groups and political parties both at home and abroad, Nepal's Maoist government on Wednesday reversed its decision to replace the Indian priests at the Himalayan country's most revered Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu with the local Brahmins. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Prachanda during a special address to Parliament telecast live by the state-run television.

Prachanda sworn-in as republican Nepal's first PM

Prachanda sworn-in as republican Nepal's first PM

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2008

53-year-old Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda was administered the oath of office by President Ram Baran Yadav during a function at the Rastrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu.

Consensus in Nepal over Maoists-led govt

Consensus in Nepal over Maoists-led govt

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2008

The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) at a meeting held Monday night agreed in principle to form a coalition government under the leadership of former rebels, NC spokesman Arjun Narsingh Khatri Chhetri said.

Nepal: 10 hurt in anti-Hindi protests

Nepal: 10 hurt in anti-Hindi protests

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2008

The ongoing protests over the use of the Hindi language during oath-taking ceremony by Nepal Vice President Parmananda Jha on Monday took a violent turn in Kathmandu when the protestors clashed with police leaving 10 people injured. Six students, three policemen and a youth were injured when agitating students and youths clashed with the police near Amrit Science College in Kathmandu as normal life in the city nearly came to standstill, according to a private television.

Nepal's first President sworn-in; Prachanda skips

Nepal's first President sworn-in; Prachanda skips

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2008

Amid the political limbo over government formation, Indian-origin Madhesi leader Ram Baran Yadav was sworn-in as the first President of the nascent republic of Nepal on Wednesday, three days after his victory in the historic poll for the coveted post.

Ram Baran Yadav is Nepal's 1st president

Ram Baran Yadav is Nepal's 1st president

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

Yadav, a relatively unknown figure outside Nepal, was a last-minute choice of the major parties to oppose the Maoist candidate and Madhesi leader Ramraja Prasad Singh.

Nepal: Koirala steps down as prime minister

Nepal: Koirala steps down as prime minister

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2008

Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Thursday resigned from his post, ending a two-month long deadlock to pave the way for the country's first ever Maoist-led government. Koirala, 83, announced his resignation while addressing the Constituent Assembly, which was elected in April to rewrite the constitution and govern the Himalayan nation, Nepali Congress Assembly member Tirtha Ram Dangol said.

Nepal Maoists withdraw claim on prez post

Nepal Maoists withdraw claim on prez post

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2008

In a sudden U-turn that could break the lingering political deadlock in Nepal, Maoists on Thursday decided to give up their claim on the post of president, paving the way for formation of a new government. Following its Central Secretariat meeting in Kathmandu, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist party also announced that it has withheld its decision to quit the interim multi-party government by Thursday.

Nepal: Gyanendra to exit palace within a week

Nepal: Gyanendra to exit palace within a week

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

Faced with a June 12 deadline, Nepal's ousted king Gyanendra on Monday assured the government that he will exit his Narayanhiti palace in Kathmandu within a week and live as a commoner, saying he is ready to make the "sacrifice for Nepalese people and permanent peace."