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Bhattarai sworn in as Nepal PM Kathmandu, August 29 The 57-year-old Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar ascends to the post at a crucial time in Nepal and faces the twin challenge of integrating and rehabilitating over 19,000 former Maoist guerrillas and preparing the first Constitution, two major conditions of a 2006 peace deal which ended a decade-long civil war that killed some 16,000 people. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bhattarai, who was dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and traditional ‘topi’, at a grand function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan this afternoon. Along with Bhattarai, the newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar of the Madhesi coalition was also sworn in. Bhattarai said that he hoped to lead a consensus government to break the political deadlock that has stalled the peace process and delayed the drafting of a new constitution. “Being the largest party it is our legitimate right to lead the government, though we wanted to form a consensus government, we have to go through a majoritarian practice,” Bhattarai said. “Despite that, my effort will be to convert this government into a national unity government and then reach an agreement on all the major issues and complete our mission,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC. Senior Nepalese leaders, including caretaker Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala along with top diplomats attended the function in the capital. The Maoists with 236 seats are the largest party in Parliament but left power in May 2009 in a row over the dismissal of the then Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal. Prachanda had dismissed Katawal after accusing him of undermining the civilian government. The Maoist supremo quit after President Yadav reinstated Katawal. — PTI
Promises to visit his college at Chandigarh
Chandigarh, August 29 Describing him as a person of resolute mind, Gurnek Singh shared memories of yesteryear at the Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) with The Tribune today. "Babu was a shy but academically bright student of our 1972-77 batch. He went on to do his master's and doctorate from reputed institutes in India. With such an educational background, he is surely a man of great vision for his country," said Gurnek Singh, now guest faculty at the college. When Gurnek Singh called up Dr Baburam this morning to congratulate him, the latter assured him of his visit to the college soon. Gurnek Singh added the Nepal PM was "delighted to hear from his old batch mate at the CCA," where he had studied on scholarship as a foreign student. "Boondiya utha tiyan….," (an expression used during their CCA years to say "you have excelled!") quipped his old batch mate to him in their telephonic conversation. "We are expecting him to come for our golden jubilee celebrations in October. I, and my two other classmates, Yogeshwar Prajuli and Manu Bhatnagar, will visit Nepal to personally invite him," said Gurnek Singh. None from his batch had expected a reserved student, Baburam, to lead the Maoist movement one day, or stay in exile or even become the Prime Minister of Nepal someday. Visibly delighted at the accomplishment of a CCA alumnus, Principal Pradeep Kumar Bhagat said, "This is one of the proudest moments in the history of the college that our alumnus will now be leading a neighbouring country. The entire college is elated at his achievement. I have been informed by Col Singh that Dr Baburam Bhattarai would in all probability join us at the golden jubilee celebrations. Dr Babu's achievement is a reflection on the overall grooming of students."
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