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The Congress on Tuesday said its senior leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi is in Nepal to attend the wedding of a journalist friend, The Indian Express reported.

The statement came soon after Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s information and technology department, put out a video on Twitter purportedly showing Gandhi at a nightclub.

“Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under seize. He is at a nightclub at a time when his party is exploding. He is consistent. Interestingly, soon after the Congress refused to outsource their presidency, hit jobs have begun on their Prime Ministerial candidate…,” he tweeted.

When asked about Gandhi’s whereabouts, Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala told reporters: “Rahul Gandhi has not gone as an uninvited guest like Prime Minister Modi went to Pakistan to celebrate birthday and cut cakes for the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. Rahul Gandhi has gone to a friendly country Nepal to participate in a private marriage function of a friend. By chance, the friend also happens to be a journalist. So I think they are also abusing your fraternity.”

The PTI quoted a report in The Kathmandu Post and said the Congress leader was in Kathmandu to attend the wedding of his Nepali friend Sumnima Udas.

“Last when I checked, having a family in this country, having friends in this country, attending marriage, engagement ceremonies is a matter of our culture and civilization. It has still not become a crime in this country to be married, to be friends with someone, or to attend their marriage celebration,” Surjewala said at an AICC press conference.

“Maybe after today Prime Minister Modi and the BJP may decide that it is illegal to attend a marriage. They may say it is a crime to have friends or participate in family functions. But do let me know so that we all change our status, habits and civilizational practices of attending the marriage of friends as also family,” he added, according to The Indian Express.

Actor Bhuwan KC joined the Nepali Congress on Tuesday. Along with him, actress Shweta Khadka and Rabindra Khadka have also joined the Congress.

Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba welcomed them to the party amid a program organized in Baluwatar this morning.

Earlier, actress Karishma Manandhar had joined the CPN (Maoist Centre) and Rekha Thapa joined the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

With the price drop, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 97, 200 per tola today.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the yellow metal was traded at Rs 98, 200 per tola on Monday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 96, 700 per tola today.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 290 per tola.

The tejabi gold was traded at Rs 97, 700 on Sunday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, in Nepal on May 16 to celebrate Buddha Jayanti, birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, The Hindu reported.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is also expected to be in Lumbini to mark the occasion, the sources added.

Indian Prime Minister, however, will not stay in Kathmandu, according to The Hindu.

Temple trustees have told local media that the two Prime Ministers will take part in the lamp-lighting ceremony at the Mayadevi temple.

According to the sources, the Ministry of External Affairs and security officials have already conducted a reconnaissance of the arrangements for the visit, The Hindu reported.

This will be Modi’s first visit to Nepal since he was re-elected in 2019. In his previous term, he visited Nepal on four occasions, including twice in 2014 and twice in 2018.

A ward member candidate of Dilasaini Rural Municipality-5, Baitadi was injured in a khukuri attack on Monday.

Hari Ram Saud (60) was attacked with the khukuri at around 10 pm yesterday, Inspector Lok Raj Joshi of the District Police Office, Baitadi said.

It has been learnt that a candidate of Maoist Centre, Hari Ram was attacked by the group of Ajit Saud.

Police said that he sustained injuries on his head and body.

The District Police Office said that Hari Ram has been referred to a hospital in Dhangadhi after receiving primary treatment at the local Gokuleshwor Hospital.

A person died when two motorcycles collided with each other in Urlabari Municipality-8 of Morang district on Monday.

DSP Deepak Shrestha, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Morang, said that the incident occurred when the bike (Province 1-02-042 Pa 1600) heading towards south from north collided head-on with another bike (Me 7 Pa 6371) last night.

The deceased has been identified as bike (6371) rider Ganesh Sitaula (45). 

Critically injured in the incident, he breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Urlabari-based Araniko Hospital, DSP Shrestha said.

Pillion rider Akash Limbu (29) was injured in the incident.

Police said that they have ampounded both the bikes following the incident and arrested another bike rider Yogin Kumar Gurung (32) of Urlabari-9 for investigation.

Police have arrested a man with 100 gram  gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday.

A 28-year-old man, who arrived in Kathmandu from Kuwait boarding a Jazira Air's flight at 7 am on Tuesday, was apprehended by the airport customs office.

Police said that the man was detained after he was found concealing the precious yellow inside a mixture.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.

A senior head constable of Nepal Police died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in Dhanusha on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Bhojraj Parajuli of the Area Police Office, Dhalkebar.

Inspector Ram Sagar Singh of the Area Police Office, Dhalkebar said that the unidentified vehicle knocked Parajuli down in front of the Area Police Office while he was heading towards the office after finishing duty at Dhalkebar in Dhanusha last night.

A permanent resident of Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality-5, Okhaldhunga, Parajuli was transferred to the Area Police Office, Dhalkebar three months ago.

Police said that they are looking into the case.