<p>Kathmandu, Nov 26: Foreign Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat inaugurated the Nepal festival organised by the Non-resident Nepalis Association Australia and the Nepali Embassy in Australia in Sydney today.<br><br>Nepalis living in various parts of Australia are taking part in the festival held at the popular tourist site of Darling Harbour. Presentations on Nepal's art and culture and traditions are taking place in the festival. <br><br>Speaking on the occasion, Minister Dr Mahat said there is huge potential for development in Nepal at present and appealed to the Nepali community there to investment in the building campaign of their mother land. "As Nepal is heading towards stability and economic prosperity through the implementation of the constitution, I appeal to all the Nepalis around the world to join hands in this national campaign," he said.<br><br>Dr Mahat said his visit was intended to further expand bilateral relations between the two countries and also to understand the problems and sentiments of Nepalis in Australia. He also lauded the contribution of the Nepalis in the promotion of cordial relations between Nepal and Australia.<br><br>President of NRNA Shesh Ghale and prominent Nepalis in Australia also addressed the inaugural session of the festival, according to the Foreign Minister's Press Advisor Yekraj Pathak. (Photo available)<br><br></p>

<p>Kathmandu, Nov 26: The government has formed a team comprising secretaries of Education and Health Ministries to hold talks with Dr Govinda KC.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The team comprising Secretary at the Ministry, Shanta Nahadur Shrestha, and Health Secretary Dr Senendra Raj Upreti was formed to hold talks with Dr KC, who has been staging hunger strike for the past two weeks demanding reforms in the medical education and health sector. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Education Minister Dhaniram Poudel said that the dialogue team was formed under the direction of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Health Secretary Dr Upreti said that the team would take possible initiatives to address genuine demands of Dr KC and to save his life. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa few days ago had met with Dr KC and made commitment to form a talks team for the resolution of the problems. <br><br>It is the 10th series of hunger strike staged by Dr KC.<br></p>

<p>Kathmandu, Nov 26: An international marathon was held in Kakani of Nuwakot today with the objective of promoting fraternity in the world.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;A total of 409 athletes from various countries including UK, France, Bolivia, Mauritius and hosts Nepal took part in the marathon organised by the 'impact marathon series'. Of them, 243 were from Nepal. The marathon was conducted in three categories–42 kilometres, 21 kilometres and 10 kilometres. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The 42-kilometres marathon was held from Kakani to Shivapuri and the remaining in surrounding villages, according to BK Shrestha, representing the organisers. <br><br></p>

<p>Kathmandu, Nov 26: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former Cuban President Fidel Castro. </p><p>Castro, Cuba's longest-serving communist leader, died on Friday night at the age of 90. </p><p>In a condolence message sent to Cuba's President Raul Castro on Saturday, President Bhandari has extended profound sadness over the passing of the Cuban former President Castro.</p><p>Furthermore, the Head of the State, in the condolence message, has stated that Castro will always be remembered for his integrity and dedication for the cause of social justice, equality and right of the people. </p><p>Similarly, sending a separate condolence message on Saturday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Fidel Castro.</p><p>PM Dahal, in his message, acknowledged Castro as one of the most popular, revolutionary communist leaders. He has commended Castro as a true representative of people.<br><br></p>

<p><b>Deepraj Sanyal-</b><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KATHMANDU: The current political scenario in the country is highly polarized. The major political parties, which stood together at the time of promulgation of the constitution fourteen months back, are now poles apart at this important juncture of its implementation. The major ruling parties – the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) – are pushing for constitution amendment while the main opposition party, the CPN (UML), is balking at the idea. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The assertion of the two major ruling parties is that constitution implementation in the true sense would be possible only when it is made 'inclusive and acceptable' to all sides, which means the concerns of the Madhes-centric parties are well taken into account. The Madhes-centric parties are not happy with some provisions of the constitution and want them to be addressed through amendment to the constitution. <br><br>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, on behalf the ruling parties and the government, floated a constitution amendment proposal which seeks to make amendments to the provisions in the constitution related to citizenship, the shape of the National Assembly- the Upper House of Parliament, delineation of the border of the provinces and&nbsp; national language. The main opposition party, on the other hand, says constitution amendment is not the present need while holding the three-tiers of election is the key to constitution implementation as it is mandatory as per the constitutional provision. <br><br>It has alleged that the constitution amendment proposal has been brought at the behest of some foreign powers and to appease the vested interests of some leaders of the Madhes-centric parties. Some UML leaders have also challenged the Madhes-centric parties to prove the agendas they have raised, their demands included, by contesting in the election, rather than taking the country on a collision course.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Although Prime Minister Dahal many times tried to woo the main opposition party into supporting the constitution amendment proposal, UML chairman KP Oli is not very convinced and has flatly rejected Dahal's overtures. He has said that his party would fight tooth and nail to defeat the proposal. While accepting that it is the government's right to table such a proposal in the parliament, the UML strongman has threatened that his party would make all-out efforts to fail the proposal. In fact, the party has called its cadres to come out in protest against the proposal and its proposition; and there have been demonstrations in some parts of the country.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Madhes-centric parties, most of which support the present coalition government, on their part are pressing for the constitution amendment. They have even given ultimatum to the government to register the constitution amendment proposal in parliament by the end of November, lest face their wrath – in the form of withdrawing support to the government and virulent protests. So far, this is the political scenario.<br><br><b>Local elections long overdue<br></b><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Whatever the controversy over the constitution amendment, election of the local bodies has been long overdue. Though the country has moved ahead in practicing the democratic republican system since the time of the adoption of the Interim Constitution a decade back, the political parties have missed when it comes to consolidating the democracy at the grassroots by holding the local body elections. </p><p>It is only when the local bodies that are the foundation of democracy are run with the direct participation of the people that the people get a sense of ownership over the system. The people want to see that the development works at the local level are expedited and all the administrative services are closer to their doorsteps. They want to participate in local development. This is achieved best through their elected representatives. So, the holding of the local election is a must for institutionalising and strengthening democracy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;However, the sad part of the story in our case is that the elections to the local bodies have not been held for the last 19 years. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nothing else but the perennial political instability during this period, and lack of will power and capacity of the political parties is to be blamed for this crash of the foundation of democracy. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The constitution can be best put into action by holding the local body election as is mandated in the constitution. The constitution itself will be in question if the elections are not held in the stipulated time, i.e. by mid-April 2017. If election to the local bodies is deferred and not held this time, it will invite another constitutional crisis, further exacerbating the political instability and fluidity. This situation might lead to political unrest and quagmire, putting the so-called epochal achievements into peril and a period of misery to the sovereign citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>