Author: Yogesh Gautam

Cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front have defied curfew and intensified their protests in Saptari. Areas along the East-West Highway in Bhardaha and Rupni remain tense following the death of two demonstrators in police firing on Saturday night. Local administration imposed indefinite curfew beginning 6 am. According to local journalists and leaders, police and protesters continue to clash at different places. “Many places in the district are out of control,” journalist Jitendra Khadka told Setopati from Saptari. “Clashes are continuing in several places.” Demonstrators have burnt tyres at different junctions. Early on Sunday, protesters set ablaze a motorcycle...

Nepal created history on Wednesday by electing its first woman Head of the Nation. CPN (UML) leader Bidya Devi Bhandari, 54, became Nepal’s new President by winning a vote in Parliament. She bagged 327 votes as against NC leader Kul Bahadur Gurung’s 214 votes. Bhandari won the election with the backing of UML’s coalition partners CPN (Maoist), RPP (N) and MJF (D). Her rival Gurung received votes only from NC lawmakers. From Guranse to Shital Niwas Shital Niwas, a Rana era royal bungalow turned into Rashtrapati Bhavan after Nepal was declared a republic in 2008, hosted a Madhesi as...

Senior leader of the UCPN (Maoist) Dr Baburam Bhattarai has announced his decision to quit from the party. Bhattarai informed about his decision by organizing a press conference in Indreni Complex in New Baneshwor on Saturday afternoon. He ruled out any possibility of returning to the UCPN (M). “I’d rather enter jungle than return to the party,” he said in the press conference. Bhattarai said that India’s intervention on Nepal’s internal affairs was condemnable, but added that populist nationalism was no better either. He also denied having played any role to incite violent incidents in Tikapur and other...