BRIEF HISTORY OF TELANGANA

FROM TELANGANA TIMES

By Dr. D. Raja Reddy

The three major source materials available for the study of our ancient history are the literary works, inscriptions and coins of that period. First major dynasty to rule Andhra was Satavahana. Considering the long duration of Satavahana rule, it may be said that the source materials of all three types, which are available, are indeed meager, if we were to consider the source materials available for the study of pre Satavahana history they are even meager.

Prof. P.S.Sastri wrote about the ‘the early Andhras before the Satavahana’s in the XVI volume of the journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society. Sastri commmented that the history of Andhras before the Satavanhana Empire is shrouded in obscurity and the attempts so for made to clear the mist are not a success’. Sri K. Raghavacharyulu authoritatively summarized ancient literary works, which first mention the word Andhra, in the tenth volume of the journal of Andhra historical society from Rajamundry. He quoted from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Aitareya Brahmana, Buddhist Jataka stories and works of Panini, Katyayana, Patanjaji and Edicts of Asoka and references from Megasthenese and Pliny the elder. All of us been hearing ad nauseum about the references to the word Andhra in these literary works and we are not going to learn anything new about our early history by reciting the quotes from these works. I will summarize what is said in these literary works and the inscriptions. All of us know about the reference to Andhras in Aitareya Brahmana, which is a prose commentary about Rigveda dated to 9th – 7th century BC. It is the story of Sunahasepa who has been liberated from a cruel father by the sage Visvamitra and adopted as his eldest child. The first fifty sons of the Rishi objected to it his whereupon the holy sage cursed them. They were cursed to mix freely with the non-Aryan tribes. This intermixture has resulted in rising up of the new races called Andhras, Pundras, Saharas and Kalingas. The epic Ramayana refers to Andhras as tribe living south of Aryavrata and associates them with Pundras, Cholas, Pandyas and Keralas. Mahabharata mentions Andhras with Pundras, Dravides, Odias, Kalingas. Andhras have been referred to as a south Indian tribe in both Ramanyana and Mahabhata. Mahabharata further mentions that the Andhra, Saka, Pulinda, Yavana, Kamboja kings were not followers of sacred Aryan Dharma. The reference to Andhrapura on the Talvaha River (identified by some as Godavari in contrast to Krishna which is referred to as Black River) and the Andhra country in the Jataka story is repeated. Katyayana, Patanjali and not to speak of Panini are significantly silent about Andhras or their country. Megasthenes described Andhras as a Powerful nation living in the neighborhood of Calings. Pliny mentions that Andhras possessed numerous villages; thirty cities defended by walls and towers and supplied its king with one hundred thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry and one thousand elephants. The Andhra nation as such possessed military force second only to that of Chandragupta Maurya. Andhras were a powerful nation with a wide territory and extensive fortifications. With regarded to the inscriptions, pre-Mauryan inscriptions are nonexistent and only inscriptions of the period are Ashokan edicts and Battiprolu inscription. 13th rock edict of Asoka couples Andhras with Bhoja-Pentenikas on the one hand with Pulindas on the other. Andhras were the border people living on the outline province of Asokan Empire like Yavanas and Khambojas. Battiprolu inscription mentions about king Kuberaka that is relevant to us, as there were many small kings in Andhra Desa before Satavahanas who issued uninscribed coins. The king Kuberaka in Mahishmandala (Krishna-Guntur) was a local ruler who turned perhaps a Buddhist under the impact of Asokan Dhamma. Only information that we gather from all these references is that Andhra tribe lived on the fringes of Aryan civilization south of Vindhyas and we were a powerful nation in the neighborhood of Kalinga. Hence, coins have become the main source of history of the period. Let us study the coins of the Pre-Satavahana period of Andhra Desa and see what can be learned form their study.In the evolution of ancient Indian coinage earliest to be issued were the punch marked coins, which were first succeeded by the uninscribed coins and later by the inscribed coins. Punch marked coins were of two types namely local janapada and imperial national coinage and former belong to an earlier period. Andhra janapada coins were found at Singavaram and these are dated to 6-7th century B.C. The imperial types were found at Amaravati, Karimnagar and Nustulapur and in various excavations such as Kondapur. The kings of Magada, Nanda and Maurya dynasties issued these coins. ‘Uninscribed coins were found at various sites in Andhra and I have put them together in our book entitled ‘Uninscribed coins of Andhra’. Uninscribed coins are dated to the 6- 2nd century B.C. Early inscribed pre-Satavhana coins were mainly found at Kotalingala and few other sites. They have been first described by Parabrahma Sastri and Later by me in a book. These coins are dated to 2nd century B.C. if not earlier.Puranas start form Satavahana kings. Coins reveal even the history of Andhra of even earlier period. Andhra history starts form Kotalingala and the first known kings to rule Andhra was Gobada.

Telugu pride Vs Telangana demand gives headache to TDP

FROM THE ECONOMIC TIMES

NEW DELHI: Challenging times are ahead for Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition party, the TDP, in the run-up to the next Lok Sabha polls.

The party, which recently got a foothold in Telangana by wresting seats from the TRS, is a divided house on the crucial question of statehood for the region.

The TDP, which has stood for undivided Andhra Pradesh, is now seeing senior leaders openly expressing their support for a separate Telangana, citing recent election wins in the region.

This strain of opinion, which is at odds with the party’s official stand, not only puts it in a quandary on how to bring together pro and anti-Telangana groups in the party (something which the rival Congress has been dealing with as well), but the development comes at time when the party is increasingly finding itself isolated on the national stage.

Its biggest alliance partner in the third front UNPA, the SP, is moving closer to the Congress and the Left is non-committal on lending wholehearted backing to third front arrangement. To add to this, all parties in Andhra will have to face the discomfort of a new and untested political player, actor Chiranjeevi, entering the scene. There is speculation that the actor, who is set to launch his party in August, might take the Left along with him.

Beacon Online to now highlight Telangana Movement too!

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Darjeeling! Please do accept my best wishes and regards.

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that Telangana News Networks and Blogs will now be featuring News stories and reports from Beacon Online. I have on the behalf of Beacon Online given exclusive and inexhaustive right to Telangana Times to publish and feature news articles, reports, essays and cover stories from Beacon Online. This has been done to initiate an integration of ideologies. Beacon Online has also been authorized in a reciprocal basis to produce stories, articles and essays on Telangana. As such from today onwards, Beacon Online will be publishing news features on Telangana.

It is hoped that this will initiate a new level of understanding of both the Gorkhaland Movement and the Telangana Movement.

Regards

Barun

http://times.discover-telangana.org/

Shyam Thapa to say goodbye to coaching in Nepal

FROM GARHWAL POST

Dehradun: Doon’s legendary footballer Shyam Thapa has decided to wind up his coaching assignment in Nepal and get involved in a football project in India. Shyam is the present in-charge of the Asian Football Confederation’s soccer development programme in Nepal. He is all set to leave his work in Nepal by this month.

Speaking to Garhwal Post over the phone line, Shyam Thapa, said,” I am presently in Kathmandu and will host a press conference soon to announce my decision. I am leaving Nepal and will be working as Technical Director of the Mohun Bagan SAIL Football Academy in Durgapur (WB).”

The news of Thapa leaving Nepal was in the air since last year. But, this year, he has decided to take the step. In the past, Thapa was coach of the East Bengal Football Club for six years, from 1985 to 90. He also served as the coach of the Indian Youth team in 1988.

Shyam Thapa is one the greatest footballers that the Doon Valley has produced. He is keen to do something for the promotion of the game here. Thapa has expressed his wish to visit Dehradun in the coming time for talent spotting.

Shyam Thapa holds the unique distinction of being a part of major victories of Dehradun sides in national junior and senior championships. He started to play soccer at the Gorkha Military School located here.

Seeking divine intervention in favour of Gorkhaland

Marwari community in Darjeeling invokes Fire God Angi though Vedic Rituals for intervention in favour of Gorkhaland

ALL PHOTOS BY BARUN ROY

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO MAGNIFY

Garbage disposal in Kalimpong

Kalimpong Municipal Workers disposing garbage.

Bags for waste disposal

Dr. Zimba distributing bags to shop owners for waste disposal in Kalimpong

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Decision on release of two Czech entomologists in India in a week

FROM ceskenoviny.cz

Darjeeling: A decision on the release of two Czech entomologists detained in northeastern India over unauthorised insect collecting could be made on July 21, Czech ambassador to India Hynek Kmonicek said.

He visited the two Czechs, Emil Kucera and Petr Svacha, in prison in Darjeeling today.

He said both of them are in “quite a good psychological condition.”

Kucera, 52, and Svacha, 51, were detained close to the Singalila National Park, Bangla state, on June 23 because they did not have an official permit to collect insects.

Since then they have been in custody in Darjeeling. Their case is complicated by a strike of local judiciary employees.

Kmonicek said the court should decide on July 21 on the Czechs’ possible release on bail.

He said if the hearing were not held over the strike or if the court did not make any decision on the case, the Czech side would strive for the transfer of the case to Calcutta, Bangla capital, where courts function normally.

Kmonicek dismissed the Indian press claim that the two Czechs may be smugglers of rare species of insect.

The two entomologists have issued a statement saying they were not collecting insects in Singalila and that they did not even enter the park, Kmonicek said.

Svacha is a renowned scientist from the Czech Science Academy Entomological Institute, Kmonicek, said.

Kucera has published a number of works on the basis of which some 100 new species of insect have been identified, Kmonicek said.

The Czech scientists have also been backed by the itnernational science community. A petition with more than 600 sigantures, mostly by scientists, demanding the Czechs’ release has been addressed to the Indian prime minister.

Maoists, UML agree to name president in couple of days

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS NET

Kathmandu, July 15 : The Maoists and the CPN (UML) have reached an understanding to name the first President and Vice-President of Nepal within a couple of days.

Nepalnews quoted UML General Secretary Jhal Nath Khanal as saying that the two parties concluded that a new government should be formed as early as possible.

The two parties have come closer after the Maoists rejected the Nepali Congress’s proposal to make Girija Prasad Koirala the first president of Nepal.

UML had internally proposed the name of its former general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to which Maoist leaders have not given their consent.

Meanwhile, addressing the District Council of the Kathmandu District Development Committee, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that his party was worried that the old of game of buying and selling parliamentarians might be repeated in the Constituent Assembly (CA) as well.

He said that the Maoists had to go for simple majority provision although they made their utmost effort to save the consensus politics.

“The new government would have already been formed if other political parties had secured the position we have achieved,” he said, adding that his party leadership was engaged in intense discussion with other political parties for forming the new government and electing the president at the earliest.

Nepal’s first president to be elected on July 19

FROM ASIAN NEWS NET

Kathmandu, July 15: The Nepal Constituent Assembly (CA) today fixed July 19 as the date for election of the first president of republican Nepal.

During a meeting here, the Constituent Assembly working consultation committee decided the date for the election.

The Constituent Assembly decision comes at a time when major parties have failed to arrive at a consensus on the presidential candidate despite holding series of discussions.

Earlier, a meeting between leaders of the Maoist and the CPN (UML) over the issue ended inconclusively after the UML leaders claimed the presidential post for party’s former General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The Maoist urged the UML not to stick to an individual, but to forge a consensus in forming a new government and to elect the first president of the nation, Nepalnews reported.

LEGENDS OF GORKHA FOOTBALL – Amar Bahadur – Unsung Hero of Asian Games

FROM DEHRADUN FOOTBALL

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“My best goal is the one that I scored against Japan in the crucial match of the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games. India won 1-0 to secure the bronze medal in football.”

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Recalling this glorious moment for Indian football, Amar Bahadur adds, “I received an excellent cross from Manjeet Singh from the right flank to score the winning goal.”The goal has left some bitter memories for Amar Bahadur.

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This is because he was not given the credit for it and reports in Indian newspapers flashed the name of Manjeet Singh as the scorer. Even today, the record books mention the name of Manjeet Singh.

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So Amar Bahadur remains an unsung hero in India despite his historic performance in Bangkok. Incidentally, this was the goal that gave India its last football medal in an international competition.

Speaking about the controversy, legendary footballer Shyam Thapa says, “I was also a member of the Bangkok Asian Games football squad. Amar Bahadur scored the winning goal and it is sad that Manjeet is given credit for the goal.”

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The thirty-five year old mix-up by newspersons remains to be corrected. In these 35 years, Japan has made tremendous progress in the game, while football is facing a tough time in India. India is ranked 131 and Japan 13 in the FIFA ranking.When asked what has gone wrong with Indian football, Amar said, “We beat Japan at the Jakarta Asiad. Japan is now among the top 15 football playing nations and we are nowhere.

Gorkha council ‘surrenders’ Sikkim forest land

FROM MAIL TODAY

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By Meenal Dubey

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Wildlife lovers and environmentalists in Sikkim have a reason to breathe easy. The forest officers of Darjeeling have succeeded in acquiring 29 acres forest land from the DGHC. The disputed land was a part of Darjeeling’s Senchel Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Earlier the Wildlife Trust of India had filed a petition in the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) against the Principal Secretary of the DGHC for illegal land use by the council. “But before the CEC could hear the case, the DGHC forwarded a letter by the secretary of transport and pool department DGHC to the divisional forest officer (DFO) of the wildlife division-I. The letter mentioned taking over the possession of the land and had sought time to remove the damaged vehicles and other equipment from the area,” a source said.

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The bone of contention was the land which housed a cowshed. He forest officials wanted to suse the land for a butterfly park and an interpretation centre.

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This was leased to the DGHC earlier by the forest department which owns the land. This cowshed was used to dump old cars by the DGHC.

Govt non-committal on conferring Bharat Ratna on Manekshaw

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Defence Minister A K Antony was today non-committal on conferring Bharat Ratna to Sam Manekshaw but said the Government was aware of the sentiments the country has for the iconic Field Marshal.

“We know the sentiments around the Field Marshal and everyone respects his achievements. We know that,” Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of a memorial function for Manekshaw. The Defence Minister was responding to a query as to whether the Government would confer the country’s highest civilian award to the Field Marshal, who passed away on June 27 at the age of 94 years.

Antony and the three service chiefs had not attended the funeral of Maneshaw which drew widespread criticism. Earlier addressing the function, Gen (Retd) Deependra Singh said an “upright and brave personality” like Manekshaw deserved the highest civilian award. Antony described the late Field Marshal as the “greatest soldier” who led the Army during a “very crucial and critical” period of history in many respect, including the circumstances which led to the formation of Bangladesh.

People petition Sub-divisional Officer Kurseong for proper investigation into boy’s death

Photo by Mohan Prasad [Himalaya Darpan]

Members of All India Nepali Schedule Caste Association performing a religious ritual for Gorkhaland

Arson attempt thwarted in Darjeeling Market Square

The textile shop where the arson was attempted.

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

B K Birla Group’s Jay Shree Tea acquires Jayantika Tea

 

FROM THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE

Kolkata, June 27 Jay Shree Tea & Industries Ltd, belonging to the B K Birla Group, has acquired Jayantika Tea Co Ltd having a tea estate in Dooars. 

Sharing this at the company’s annual general meeting here on Friday, Mrs Jayashree Mohta, Director of the company and also daughter of Mr Birla, said with this acquisition the company’s tea growing capacity would be about 1.1 million kg annually. “The acquisition should be in the interest of the company”, Mrs Mohta observed. 

Right now, the company has 20 gardens — 10 in Assam, eight in West Bengal (six in Darjeeling and two in Dooars) and two in Tamil Nadu, with total capacity of about 20 million kg annually.

Rise in exports 

Earlier, Mr Birla, in his address, said the company’s exports in the current year were estimated to rise to Rs 60 crore from Rs 49 crore last year. Till May, the exports amounted to Rs 13.25 crore, he said. He felt that the domestic price of tea was set for a rise. This would happen due to two reasons. First, in the absence of carry forward stock, the market started on a strong note. Also, the production of orthodox tea was increased following strong enquiries from overseas buyers and the shift in production would tighten the availability of the CTC variety. The current price of Cachar and Assam teas was higher by Rs 16/17 a kg compared with the last year and the Darjeeling prices were up by around Rs 54 a kg.

Following restructuring, Birla Tea Ltd, as Mrs Mohta pointed out, was left with only one garden — North Tukvar Tea Estate in Darjeeling.  Darjeeling Consolidated Tea and Marionbarie Tea have been demerged from Birla Tea and amalgamated with Jay Shree Tea which shall issue and allot one equity share of Rs 10 each for every 20 held to the members of Birla Tea. 

Nepal Maoists back off giving Gurkhas the chop

 

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

KATHMANDU (AFP) — Nepal’s legendary Gurkha mountain men, whose service in the British army helps support tens of thousands of people in their impoverished homeland, will now get to fight another day.
The country’s new Maoist leaders, former far-left rebels who oppose foreign imperialism in all its guises, had threatened to end what they see as the humiliating recruitment of young Nepali men into the British armed forces.

But in what appears to be a nod to hard-nosed practicality in a country where the annual average salary is 470 dollars, the Maoists have backed off, saying they must first oversee the new republic’s “economic revolution”.

“We don’t have any immediate plans to stop the recruitment of Nepali youths into the British army,” Nanda Kishore Pun, a deputy commander from the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army, told AFP. “For the next few years we will be concentrating on bringing an economic revolution,” said Pun, whose party is poised to form Nepal’s first government following the abolition of the centuries-old monarchy.

“Then we will deal with this issue,” he added, saying a review of the recruitment policy would not come for “five to seven years.” Another deputy Maoist commander, Janardan Sharma, described their recruitment into the British army as “shameful and humiliating.”

“It’s wrong to sacrifice Nepalis to protect the sovereignty of foreign countries,” he said.

But the Gurkhas themselves don’t necessarily agree. “At least 30,000 families depend on the salaries and the pensions of the British Gurkhas,” said Lok Bahadur Gurung, from the Nepal chapter of the British Gurkha Welfare Society.

“They have been significantly contributing to Nepal’s economy since the practice started nearly 200 years ago.” Nepalis were first recruited into the army of the British East India Company after the short but bloody Anglo-Nepali war that ended in 1816.

Impressed by the bravery and ferocity of their foes, the British saw to it that a peace deal gave them the right to enlist prisoners of war in a private army. The East India Company’s troops were eventually merged into the British Army, and the Gurkhas have fought in all of Britain’s conflicts since, from Africa to Argentina — often on the frontlines. Their reputation for loyalty and fearlessness is legendary, as is their use of the Khukuri, a long, curved knife employed in hand-to-hand combat.

Shot ex-Gurkha awarded £123k

FROM KENT ONLINE

By Chris Denham

A former Gurkha has won £123,000 compensation from the Ministry of Defence after he was shot on an exercise. [Inset: Padam Limbu] 

Padam Limbu, from Folkestone, has been sleeping on the floor of a friend’s house since being discharged from the army. He was hit in the leg by a British bullet while training in 2002.

He had put in a claim for more than £200,000 but was happy with the settlement.

One of the men who had campaigned hard for Mr Limbu was Folkestone town councillor Dhan Gurung, who said: “This a victory for a single soldier, a genuine case but we have thousands of similar cases which the MOD is trying to obstruct.

“I took his case forward last year with huge pressure from the public in Folkestone and local media, everyone supported the case and he has won.

“This has not ended the fight – there are others trying to gain the legal right to stay in this country, equal pensions and benefits. Like Padam Limbu, they should not have to go through this long process.”

Soldiers who retired before 1997 have no right of residency and their pensions are worth less.

Mr Limbu was a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Regiment, based at Shorncliffe, and had served for 13 years.

Gurkhas saddle up

By Standard reporter

SOLDIERS at Buckley Barracks are sharpening up their bicycle drill in preparation for this weekend’s two-wheeled polo tournament. The event, which has become a favourite with local residents, is held each year to raise cash for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

It was delayed in 2007 by the 94 Sqn’s posting to Iraq. They have since completed a tour in Afghanistan and are preparing to head out once again this September. 

The fun and games start at 10.30am on Saturday and include martial arts shows, cultural displays, music and refreshments.

Shop signboards in Kalimpong to sport ‘Gorkhaland’

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Siliguri, July 14: After number plates of vehicles, it is now the turn of signboards of shops in Kalimpong subdivision in Darjeeling hills to sport ‘Gorkhaland’ on them. Shop keepers have been asked by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), agitating for a separate statehood in the hills, to write ‘Gorkhaland’ on their signboards within a week and they have agreed to it, said the GJM’s Kalimpong unit President Kalyan Dewan, who had a meeting with the Kalimpong Chamber of Commerce on Monday. 
 
The GJM, however, did not issue any whip and the matter was left to its district committee for decision, its press secretary Benoy Tamang said. 
 
On ‘GL’ (Gorkhaland) number plates appearing on vehicles, he said cars of GJM leaders were using them and there was no resistance from either the district administration or the police.  Alphabets GL were being used instead of WB followed by 02, a code for public, then A, B, C or D and the number. 
 
A stood for Darjeeling, B for Kalimpong, C for Kurseong and D for vehicles plying in Terai and Dooars region, Tamang said. 
 
The GJM, he said, was eager for early tripartite talks in New Delhi but was “going slow” now because of the political uncertainty at the Centre. “We are monitoring the situation. If the situation stabilises after July 22 (trust vote date) we will go to Delhi. Besides GJM president Bimal Gurung, representatives of all 14 political parties supporting the GJM demand for a separate state will go.” 
 
Meanwhile, GJM councillors of Kalimpong are all set to raise no-confidence motion against municipality chairman C K Kumai within “a day or two”, he said. 

‘Nepal Madhesi leaders inspired by LTTE’

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: A top Communist leader in Nepal has accused the Terai-based Madhesi leaders of following the footsteps of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and LTTE chief Prabhakaran of Sri Lanka as lawmakers began discussions on a key amendment for incorporating greater autonomy for the plains bordering India.

Ramachandra Jha, central committee member of Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) alleged that the Madhesi leaders, whose main demand is to declare Madhes a ’single autonomous region’, are following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who divided the Indian subcontinent on the basis of religion.

The Madhesi parties, who disrupted the proceedings in the Constituent Assembly for 12 days, want Terai as a separate state based on the principle of ‘one Madhes one region’ in an attempt to implement the two nation theory in Nepal, Jha said in an article entitled ‘the dream to become Prabhakaran and Jinnah’ in the weekly Nepal, a sister publication of the Kathmandu Post.

Jha, who is also chief whip of the CPN-UML, said the majority of the people residing in the southern plains prefer to have multiple region in Terai.

Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Madhesi parties boycotted the house meeting, claiming their demands were not addressed fully in the new constitution amendment bill tabled today.

Thapa hopes for revival of monarchy

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIAN NEWS NET

KATHMANDU: Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party – Nepal (RPP-N) Kamal Thapa, who was home minister during the direct rule of then king Gyanendra, has expressed hope of monarchy’s revival in Nepal. Through a press meet in the eastern town of Biratnagar Sunday, Thapa revealed that his party would continue to campaign for revival of monarchy in Nepal for the country’s sovereignty and strengthening of democracy.

Giving instances of Britain, Spain, Denmark and other countries where monarchy was revived, Thapa said debate on relevance of monarchy in Nepal will continue till a new constitution is endorsed. “Removing monarchy through interim constitution is only an interim decision,” he said.

However, Thapa hoped to join hands with the Maoist – the party that waged war to eliminate monarchy – in matters of national sovereignty and integrity. nepalnews.com ia July 14 08

Left parties agree to elect first Nepal President in two days

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Kathmandu, July 14: Two major Nepalese political parties agreed on Monday to elect the republic’s first President within two days.

 “We have agreed to take a decision on the post of president within two days,” CPN-UML central member Bhim Rawal said after a crucial meeting with top Maoist leaders.

The development came a day after the country’s Parliament introduced an amendment in the interim Constitution paving the way for forming the government through a simple majority.

CPN-Maoist leader and Prime Minister-in-waiting Prachanda and CPN-UML general secretary Jhalanath Khanal agreed to elect the president within a couple of days and start the process of government formation soon, Rawal said. He, however, said that further discussions are needed on the issue of power sharing.

“We will soon hold a meeting with Nepali Congress leaders to decide who will be the president,” he said, adding, “We are trying to build a consensus among all political parties and I hope the Nepali Congress will also join the new government.”

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC), the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly, reiterated its demand that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala be made the country’s first president. “The party will otherwise sit in the opposition and play a constructive role in drafting the new constitution,” NC Vice President Prakash Man Singh said.

The Constituent Assembly passed the Fifth Amendment to the constitution on Sunday. It focuses on changing the provision requiring two-thirds majority to form government, with the simple majority.

Decks cleared for Maoist government in Nepal

FROM IANS

Kathmandu: After a 10-year war to capture power by the gun, Nepal’s Maoists yesterday began edging closer to their target with the caretaker parliament clearing the decks for the formation of a new government under their leadership.

“We will form the new government by this week,” Maoist lawmaker and deputy commander of the party’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Janardan Sharma, better known by his war name Prabhakar said. “In the next 48 hours, we expect the election of Nepal’s first president to be held. After that, the new government will be announced.”

The Maoists, who fought an election this year after more than a decade and stunned the world by emerging as the largest party, began hectic consultations with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress (NC), the second largest party in the newly elected constituent assembly, as well as other parties for a coalition government.

“Today’s talks will decide if the NC will sit in the government,” Prabhakar said. However, even if there is no consensus, the Maoists will still be able to go ahead with their plans for a new government as the assembly Sunday night approved of an amendment to the constitution to make their dream of capturing power a reality. Of the 449 lawmakers attending the session, an overwhelming 442 approved the fifth change to the constitution, which will now enable the prime minister to be elected – and removed – on the basis of a simple majority in the house if there is no consensus.

Though the Maoists emerged as the largest party after the April election, they had not been able to muster the earlier two-thirds majority required.

The almost nine-hour marathon session also saw the house agree that republic Nepal’s first president, who will replace deposed king Gyanendra as head of state, will be chosen by a simple majority vote. However, to remove the president, who would be only a ceremonial head, a two-thirds majority will be needed.

The main communist party, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), is expected to join the Maoist-led new government. A strong indication came during Sunday’s vote in the assembly when the UML sided with the Maoists to defeat overwhelmingly the proposal by the prime minister’s party to allow the chief opposition party to send a member to the National Security Council.

Though the election was held on April 10, the inordinate delay in the formation of a new government occurred first due to Koirala’s party refusing to cooperate unless he was made the first president of Nepal.