The Public Accounts Committee, which went into deliberations after having a hearing with Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala two weeks ago, has advised the ministry to revive the bidding process for machine readable passports. Kantipur reports:

PAC directed the government to continue the tender process among the four companies that were pre-qualified through the global bidding in November last year. The four short-listed companies are Gemulto Oy (Finland), Sagem Securities (France), 3M-Technologies (Singapore) and Oberthur Technology (France). MoFA had scrapped the bidding process on Jan. 14 following requests from two of the companies, which sought amendments to MRPs’ technical specifications.

“The Foreign Ministry’s bidding process regarding the printing of machine readable passports is valid, whereas the decision to cancel the tender despite the selection of the four companies is illogical and illegal,” states the PAC. “We direct the government to continue with the tender process among the four pre-qualified companies for printing the passports.” The PAC directive was dispatched to the Prime Minister’s Office before Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has warned that a revolt may be necessary to ensure that the country gets a pro-people constitution within the stipulated time. Nepalnews writes:

Speaking at a programme at Damauli in Tanahun Friday, Dahal said the current ruling alliance that is full of the people defeated in the election is showing sheer disrespect to the sentiments and aspirations of Nepali people. The government is acting against the peace process on the suggestions of Indian army chief, he insisted.

But the new revolt will not consist of any banda or vehicle strike, as 16 parties signed a declaration in order to attract one million visitiors to Nepal in 2011. Nagarik writes:

If the sixteen parties follow their pledge, there will be no bandas or strikes in Nepal in 2011. The parties signed such declaration during the opening of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 on Friday.

The parties that signed the declaration include: Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Rastriya Janasakti, Nepal Sadbhawana, Nepal-Terai Loktantrik, and Rastriya Prajatantrik, among others.