Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times.
Articles by Utpal Parashar
Nepal's Maoists hold mass rallies, PM refuses to step down
Normal life in Kathmandu and 11 other cities in Nepal remained affected on Saturday as Opposition Maoists held massive rallies in a bid to remove the ruling government.
Updated on May 01, 2010 07:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Talks fail, Maoists to go ahead with strike
Opposition Maoists in Nepal have decided to go ahead with their nationwide demonstrations on May 1 after talks between the three major parties failed to arrive at any consensus, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on May 01, 2010 12:08 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Talks fail, Nepal Maoists to go ahead with May 1 demonstration
Opposition Maoists in Nepal have decided to go ahead with their nationwide demonstrations tomorrow after talks between the three major parties failed to arrive at any consensus.
Updated on Apr 30, 2010 05:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Nepal parties agree to end deadlock
In a last ditch attempt at forging a consensus ahead of the indefinite strike called by Maoists, the three major political parties of Nepal agreed on Wednesday to step up efforts to end the present deadlock, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Apr 29, 2010 01:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
US urge Maoists to refrain from violence
Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake has urged the Maoists to refrain from violence during their nationwide strike. Utpal Parashar reports.
Updated on Apr 26, 2010 06:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Maoists announce indefinite strike from May 2
Disregarding appeals from the government and international community, Maoists in Nepal on Monday announced their decision to launch an indefinite strike across the country from May 2. Utpal Parashar reports.
Updated on Apr 26, 2010 06:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Getting ready for war with wooden rifles, khukris
Thousands of youths across Nepal found a new vocation last week — training for another ‘peoples war’.
Updated on Apr 25, 2010 11:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Will quit for anyone other than Prachanda: Nepal PM
Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday agreed to quit in favour of a consensus candidate other than Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Apr 25, 2010 12:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
UN expresses concern at violation of child rights in Nepal
The United Nations has expressed concern at the fragile security and political scenario in Nepal that has adversely affected children in the Himalayan nation.
Updated on Apr 24, 2010 02:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Nepal celebrates democracy amidst confusion
Amidst growing uncertainty over the status of the peace process and continuing political deadlock, Nepal today marked the fourth anniversary of the peoples' movement that ousted monarchy and reinstated democracy.
Updated on Apr 24, 2010 12:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Crisis looms large over Nepal peace process
A major political crisis looms over Nepal with just 38 days remaining for the country to adopt its new constitution and the three major parties differing on an end to the peace process.
Updated on Apr 20, 2010 05:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Nepal Airlines aircraft force lands
A Nepal Airlines Corporation aircraft made a force landing in the remote Solukhombu district, 125 kms away from here, on Monday morning due to windy weather. The 9ABX Twin Otter aircraft sustained minor damage but all 16 passengers and crew were safe.
Updated on Apr 19, 2010 04:58 PM IST
Utpal Parashar/ HTC, Kathmandu
Nepal Maoists train cadres for ‘decisive war’
More than three years after giving up armed struggle and joining mainstream politics, opposition Maoists in Nepal have begun training their cadres for a ‘decisive war’ against the present government.
Updated on Apr 19, 2010 12:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Questions unanswered by scrapped passport deal
The scrapping of a deal by Nepal to procure MRPs from India threatened existence of the Madhav Kumar Nepal government and left opinions divided. The episode also left a bitter aftertaste in Indo-Nepal relations.
Updated on Apr 19, 2010 12:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Nepal Maoists oppose extension of Constituent Assembly term
Opposition Maoists in Nepal have decided to oppose extension of the constituent assembly’s term till the ruling government makes way for a national government headed by them.
Updated on Apr 16, 2010 02:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Indian actors take over Nepal screens
As Nepal ushered its New Year on Wednesday, a long list of eminent Indian film heroines from Nargis to Rani Mukherjee began lighting up the screen at Nepal Tourism Board’s auditorium in Kathmandu, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Apr 16, 2010 12:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Indian heroines light up Nepal screen in New Year
As Nepal ushered its New Year on Wednesday, a long list of eminent Indian film heroines from Nargis to Rani Mukherjee began lighting up the screen at Nepal Tourism Board’s auditorium in Kathmandu.
Updated on Apr 15, 2010 01:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Poetic push to promulgate Nepal constitution on time
It’s a poetic push that some hope will end differences among major parties in Nepal and help the country get its new constitution on time, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Apr 14, 2010 02:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
India regrets politicization of scrapped passport deal with Nepal
India has expressed regret at politicization of the deal with Nepal to supply machine-readable passports (MRPs), which forced the Nepal government to revoke the contract on Sunday.
Updated on Apr 13, 2010 04:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Differences between Nepal SC judges over President's move
Differences have cropped up between two Supreme Court justices over a case pertaining to Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate an army chief sacked by the previous Maoist-led government.
Updated on Apr 13, 2010 04:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Poetic push to promulgate Nepal constitution on time
It’s a poetic push that some hope will end differences among major parties in Nepal and help the country get its new constitution on time, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Apr 13, 2010 04:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Under Maoist pressure, Nepal scraps deal with India
Opposition Maoists in Nepal called off their proposed countrywide strike on Monday following a government decision to scrap the contract with India on supply of machine readable passports (MRPs).
Updated on Apr 13, 2010 12:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Maoists withdraw strike, continue to target PM
Opposition Maoists in Nepal called off their proposed countrywide strike on Monday following a government decision to scrap the contract with India on supply of machine readable passports.
Updated on Apr 12, 2010 03:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Prachanda, fellow Maoists flock to Ramdev’s camp
Notwithstanding his anti-India outbursts, Nepal’s Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ seems to have developed an affinity with Indian yoga guru Ramdev, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Mar 29, 2010 07:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Monarchy is dead in Nepal, long live monarchy
Officially Nepal abolished monarchy in May 2008. But the Shah dynasty that ruled Nepal for 240 years still rules the hearts of many in this Himalayan nation, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Mar 29, 2010 01:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Nepal Maoists plan to topple government
Terming it the biggest obstacle in constitution-drafting process, opposition Maoists in Nepal have decided to remove the coalition government headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Updated on Mar 27, 2010 01:52 PM IST
None | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Ramdev dares China to open its borders with Nepal
Eminent yoga guru Swami Ramdev today dared China to open its borders with Nepal to prove it's a better neighbor than India. Challenging China to allow Nepalese citizens to freely enter the country and work like they do in India, Ramdev stated that if it fails to do so it will expose the country's ulterior motives in Nepal, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Mar 26, 2010 07:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Ramdev dares China to open its borders with Nepal
Eminent yoga guru Swami Ramdev on Friday dared China to open its borders with Nepal to prove it’s a better neighbor than India, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Mar 26, 2010 07:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
Omnipresent South Block hand
As a neighbour, and a big one at that, India is a frequent topic of conversation for many in Nepal. Understandable both countries share many similarities — religion, culture, language and, to a certain extent, history, reports Utpal Parashar.
Updated on Mar 21, 2010 11:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
New Nepal constitution unlikely to be on time
It’s an open secret that would become official in few weeks. Nepal is almost certain to miss the May 28 deadline for adopting a new constitution.
Updated on Mar 20, 2010 01:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu
