Author: space4knews

Following the government’s strict enforcement of mandatory Maximum Retail Price (MRP) labeling on imported goods at customs points, cargo vehicles have come to a halt at major trade checkpoints. With the implementation of MRP, traders have stopped importing goods, raising concerns about shortages and price hikes of daily consumer products in the market. While consumer rights activists have labeled the traders’ opposition as “reckless,” the government insists on firmly upholding this regulation. Kathmandu, May 3.

The government’s decision to strictly implement compulsory MRP labeling on goods imported at customs has led to confusion and stagnation at key trade borders across the country. The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection introduced this measure to prevent consumer fraud; however, due to practical challenges in enforcement, long queues of cargo vehicles have formed at customs points in Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa, and Mechi. Traders are refusing to clear goods without MRP indicated at customs.

The slowdown in imports through major checkpoints such as Birgunj, Bhairahawa, and Rasuwagadhi could lead to shortages of daily consumer goods and potential inflation in the local markets. Nevertheless, customs authorities report that the supply of industrial raw materials and perishable items has not been completely disrupted. Traders have criticized the policy as “impractical” and unfeasible for implementation.

According to Uday Singh Bista, Information Officer at the Customs Office, approximately 1,400 to 1,500 vehicles are currently held up in customs areas. While around 1,200 trucks were detained as of May 1, the number of held cargo trucks is increasing by roughly 100 daily. Although correspondence has been made through the department to the ministry to resolve the issue, no positive developments or solutions have emerged so far.

Armed Police Force has rescued around 60 to 65 passengers trapped in a microbus stuck in the Roshi Khola area of Kavre district using ropes and a JCB excavator. The rising water level caused road erosion, resulting in the obstruction of the BP Highway. Considering the risk, police have halted more than 160 vehicles traveling towards Kathmandu. April 21, Kathmandu.

The evacuation was carried out on the BP Highway segment where the EV microbus had been stranded in Roshi Khola of Kavre. According to Armed Police Force Deputy Spokesperson and DSP Shailendra Thapa, about 60 to 65 passengers trapped in the EV HiAce vehicle were rescued with the help of ropes and a JCB. The affected area, spanning over 400 ropani, lies within Namobuddha Municipality-6 Chaukidanda and Roshi Rural Municipality-7, where the rising water level caused the road to be completely cut off.

DSP Thapa informed that teams from the 15th Battalion Kavre and the Monsoon Response Base in Bhakunde were immediately deployed for the rescue operation. To mitigate potential risks to vehicles operating on this section of the BP Highway, authorities have stopped 160 vehicles traveling from Lastol in Roshi Rural Municipality-7 toward Kathmandu.

April 21, Biratnagar – Just one month after the formation of the government led by Balendra Shah (Balen) elected from his own constituency, protests against the government have begun in Jhapa-5. On Monday, landless and squatters residing in Kamal Rural Municipality within Jhapa-5 staged a demonstration. Voters from Prime Minister Shah’s electoral area have taken to the streets demanding a halt to the use of bulldozers in squatter settlements, a move that has also affected similar communities in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. The protest was organized under the leadership of the Land Rights and Workers’ Organization. The demonstration culminated in presenting a memorandum at the rural municipality office. Protesters vocally opposed the government’s use of bulldozers to demolish homes in squatter settlements, displacing impoverished families. They demanded recognition of their right to housing and insisted that no settlements should be removed without alternative arrangements. Earlier, similar protests by squatters have taken place in Dharan, Pathari, and other areas.

Following the protests nationwide by squatters opposing government preparations, Prime Minister Balen, on the same day, defended his administration by affirming that permanent measures have been initiated to ensure housing rights and resolve the issues related to the clearing of these settlements. Through a post on Facebook, he stated: ‘‘The Government of Nepal wants to clarify that all measures taken are not intended to evict citizens forcibly but to ensure housing rights by providing permanent solutions to the issue.’’ He urged all citizens not to be misled, to remain calm, and to avoid spreading unverified information.

Prime Minister Balen further explained that the repeal of certain clauses of the Land Act 2071 (2014) via ordinance was necessary, considering current circumstances, as these clauses were obstructing the implementation of long-term solutions. With legal barriers removed, the government has commenced digital data collection, verification, and official recording of genuine landless citizens based on clear criteria.

The Nepali Congress has expressed strong objections to the agreement between India and China to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the Lipulekh route. The Congress has reaffirmed that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani are unequivocally Nepalese territories, while stating that it views the government’s diplomatic note on the matter positively. The party emphasized that border disputes should be resolved through diplomatic and political means and underscored the importance of unity among political parties on this issue. Kathmandu, 21 Baisakh.

The Central Working Committee meeting held today voiced dissatisfaction over the India-China agreement to allow the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage via Lipulekh. Post-meeting, Deputy General Secretary Uday Shamsher Jabara said, “Nepali Congress is deeply concerned about the agreement between India and China concerning the operation of the Mansarovar pilgrimage through Nepali territory at Lipulekh.”

He recalled that the Nepali Congress has maintained a clear stance on this matter, citing that in 2015, then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had raised the issue through a diplomatic note to draw attention to it. The Congress stressed that border disputes must be resolved solely through diplomatic and political channels. “We must solve this through diplomatic means,” he stated.

The Congress concluded that political parties should avoid divisions on matters pertaining to international relations. “There should be no partisan division in international matters. We will stand with the government on international issues,” he added. “The government should also engage in dialogue with all political parties on this subject.”

April 21, Dolpa – A jeep accident in Mudkecula, Dolpa, has left 12 people injured, with three in serious condition. The jeep, bearing the Karnali Province number 02-001 Cha 0428, was traveling from Triveni in Rukum West towards Khark in Mudkecula Rural Municipality-1 when the incident occurred on Monday evening in the Bhotaual area of Mudkecula-1.

The ward chairperson of Mudkecula-1, Pawan Budha, reported that the accident happened due to brake failure. According to him, three of the injured individuals are in critical condition and have been transferred to the municipal hospital in Chaurjahari, Rukum West, for further treatment. The remaining nine injured are receiving medical care at local health facilities, Budha added.

The Dolpa District Police Office has confirmed that police arrived at the scene and are still in the process of collecting detailed information about the incident.

The Supreme Court has declared the arrest of businessman Shekhar Golcha unlawful, invalidating two arrest warrants issued by the Kathmandu District Court. The Supreme Court clarified that Golcha can only be detained if he fails to furnish bail or surety, directing the investigating officers to demand bail first. Golcha was arrested by police on April 23, 2026 (10 Baisakh 2083 BS) under allegations of fraudulent activities pertaining to the Securities Act, 2006 (2063 BS).

The court emphasized that when the law provides for bail or surety, arrest warrants should not be issued contrary to those provisions. It explicitly stated that Golcha should be held in custody only “if he fails to submit bail or surety.” Legal experts representing Golcha had argued that without a risk of absconding, there is no legal basis for arresting the accused.

The Supreme Court revoked the arrest warrants issued against businessman Golcha, including previous orders and one issued on Monday. It stated, “The orders dated 11 and 21 Baisakh 2083 (April 24 and May 4, 2026) are annulled since the investigating officer obtained detention permissions without first demanding bail or surety.” Earlier, the District Court had extended the period for the arrest warrant.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) apprehended former Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Shekhar Golcha on April 23, 2026 (10 Baisakh 2083). He was accused of violating securities laws during the purchase of shares of Himalaya Reinsurance. The CIB charged Golcha with conducting fraudulent transactions, manipulating share prices, and adversely affecting the securities market.

Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki of Koshi Province announced that loans would be available to women entrepreneurs at an interest rate of 6 percent for durations ranging from two to six years. The provincial government has also implemented a policy requiring 4,000 employees to wear domestic clothing one day a week to promote local garment entrepreneurs. The announcement was made during the Women Leadership Summit organized by the Nepal Industry Federation in Biratnagar, where 300 women participated with the aim of achieving sustainable prosperity through agriculture, skills development, and digital innovation. The event took place on 21 Baishakh in Morang.

Chief Minister Karki emphasized the government’s commitment to the economic development of women entrepreneurs in the province. He stated that the provincial government plans to provide loans to women entrepreneurs through 12 banks at a subsidized interest rate of 6 percent for two to six years. He also encouraged women entrepreneurs to present their proposals and enter into agreements.

To further support the registered local garment entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Karki mentioned the policy requiring 4,000 employees to wear domestic clothing once a week. Additionally, he announced that if traders provide land for exhibition centers, the provincial government would allocate budget for building construction.

Regarding ongoing projects, Chief Minister Karki shared that a dozen projects signed during last year’s investment conference are currently underway, with an additional four projects expected to be implemented by the month of Jestha. He expressed the government’s commitment to facilitating market access for farmers’ agricultural products. Central chairman of the Federation, Birendra Raj Pandey; woman entrepreneur and member of parliament Vidushi Rana; and Paul Goliya, among others, pledged to create employment for 1,000 women in the near future. The summit saw participation from 300 women across the province. The Federation also organized an exhibition featuring products made by women entrepreneurs displayed across 14 stalls under the “Make in Nepal” initiative. The main objective of the conference was to encourage women entrepreneurs to drive sustainable prosperity through agriculture, skills, creativity, and digital innovation.

Following Delhi’s announcement this year that Indian pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar will use the Lipulekh Pass, the border dispute between Nepal and India over this region has intensified once again. Nepal’s government spokesperson, Minister Sasmit Pokharel, stated that due to the emergence of a ‘dispute’ along the border, the government has sent a diplomatic note. “We are clear that this is our land,” he said to journalists on Monday.

Addressing the issue, on May 3, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed its position as “consistent and clear,” noting that the pilgrimage to Mansarovar has been conducted via this route “since 1954.” This statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs comes amid the recent announcement that about 50 Indian participants, divided into 10 groups, will undertake the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage from June to August through Lipulekh, reigniting the controversy.

Delhi has repeatedly emphasized the Panchsheel Agreement signed on April 29, 1954, between India and China over the past few years. Officially titled the ‘Agreement on Trade and Intercourse Between the Tibet Region of China and India,’ it outlines five key points established seven decades ago between Delhi and Beijing. However, in discussions with two former directors of Nepal’s Survey Department, the 1954 agreement was described as lacking validity, and they stressed that it should not be used as a basis for moving forward.

Former Nepalese Ambassador to India, Deepakumar Upadhyay, noted that although India has acknowledged the controversial nature of the Lipulekh issue, there have never been effective, prioritized discussions on the matter. On April 20, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Nepal’s clear stance and concerns regarding the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route through Lipulekh via diplomatic channels to both India and China.