WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 222 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.6 C 9.0 C Sunday, October 04, 2020 | 18-06-2077 Simara Jumla Coronavirus sneaks into Baluwatar as five of Oli’s aides and 70 security personnel test positive Concerns grow about the prime minister, given his age and his health condition. Oli, 68, underwent his second kidney transplant only in March this year.

ARJUN POUDEL, TIKA R PRADHAN & ANIL GIRI many say this too is part of the way KATHMANDU, OCT 3 Baluwatar functions when it comes to transparency. In the Oli administration, A Washington Post headline on Saturday flow of information has been hugely screamed: “Trump seemed to defy the blocked—at times even the Cabinet deci- laws of science and disease. Then, the sions are hidden. coronavirus caught up with him.” The Dr Arun Sayami, who has been moni- American paper was referring to Donald toring the prime minister’s health for Trump, the president of the United States, years, said that it was not necessary to contracting Covid-19. Trump remains tell the public every time when the prime hospitalised for the virus. minister undergoes tests. In Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma “It is important to inform the public Oli too has so far defined science and about the test results if his [the prime made light of the coronavirus, oftentimes minister’s] advisers test positive,” said making statements like the disease can be POST FILE PHOTO/PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK Sayami. “People will definitely get con- kept at baby by drinking “turmeric (From left) Oli’ s chief adviser Bishnu Rimal, foreign affairs adviser Rajan Bhattarai, press adviser Surya Thapa, chief personal secretary Indra Bhandari and cerned about the health of the country’s water”. “Just sneeze and chase the virus photographer at the prime minister’s private secretariat Rajan Kafle have tested positive for the coronavirus. executive head. But it is not necessary to away,” said Oli once, addressing the tell the public every time the prime min- Parliament. Since the job of Rimal, Bhattarai and ister should be in quarantine and get addressing the Parliament back in June. ister undergoes a test.” The good thing is Oli has not tested Thapa is to work closely with Oli, who tested.” “If contracted, one should sneeze, drink According to Sayami, the good and positive for the coronavirus yet. What’s underwent a second kidney transplant in Though Oli’s advisers said the likeli- hot water and drive the virus away.” important thing is that the prime minis- concerning though is five of his close March, doctors say there is a need to take hood of him contracting the virus was Defying science and disregarding ter has tested negative so far, which has confidates have. As many as 70 security extra precautions. minimal, given the cases across the world, experts have been the hallmark of the Oli been informed to the public. personnel deployed at Baluwatar, too, Oli is 68 years old and he has underly- it would be too early to rule this out. administration ever since the virus was Information about the prime minister’s have tested positive for the virus. ing conditions. And he is a male. Several Many of the world leaders have joined the first reported in the country in January. test and the results coming negative, how- “It will be better if the prime minister studies carried out in Spain, England, growing list of those with coronavirus. As of Saturday, 84,570 cases have been ever, came to the public domain only on immediately goes into isolation,” said Dr Italy and Switzerland suggest that being a And some of them are those who made reported with 528 deaths in the country. Saturday when four of his advisers tested Santa Kumar Das, coordinator of the male is also a factor who could be at high light of the disease. In the last 24 hours, 2,120 people tested pos- positive for the coronavirus. Covid-19 management team at Tribhuvan risk after contracting the virus. Trump is the latest addition to the list. itive including 1,177 in Kathmandu Valley. Bhattarai said that the prime minister, University Teaching Hospital. “It’s of A study published by www.nature.com The Foreign Policy magazine has listed at Oli’s advisers who tested positive said as per the health protocol, will isolate him- course concerning that his advisers and revealed that men are more vulnerable to least around a dozen and a half world they always “maintained distance” while self, as he has always strictly followed it. others close to him have tested positive. the infection than women—the gap is leaders with the virus, including Trump meeting with him. “I don’t know the latest status though,” Oli’ s chief adviser Bishnu Rimal, for- increasing with age. and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro “We maintained distance and we Bhattarai told the Post. eign affairs adviser Rajan Bhattarai, “Men face twice the risk of women,” who always mocked the virus. always wore masks,” Bhattarai, Oli’s for- According to Ram Sharan Bajgain, the press adviser Surya Thapa, chief person- Beatriz Pérez-Gómez, an epidemiologist Brazil’s Bolsonaro, 65, is one of the eign relations adviser, told the Post. “The prime minister’s communication expert, al secretary Indra Bhandari and pho- at the Carlos III Institute of Health in leaders who dismissed the seriousness prime minister was recently tested for the Baluwatar has always been like an isola- tographer at the prime minister’s private Madrid, who was involved in the Spanish of the coronavirus pandemic for months, virus and his results came out negative.” tion centre where meetings are held only secretariat Rajan Kafle have tested posi- study published in the Nature Research before testing positive for Covid-19 According to officials familiar with the if they are extremely important by strict- tive for the virus. Journal, was quoted as saying. early July. matter, the prime minister’s swabs were ly following health protocols. Rimal, Bhattarai, Thapa and Bhandari “I don’t know how long the prime min- Like Trump and Bolsonaro, Oli too has tested on Thursday and the results were “There are several ways of working announced through social media that ister was exposed to the infected people,” never taken the virus seriously, at times negative for the coronavirus. without physical presence. Now we are they have tested positive for the virus Dr Anup Bastola, spokesperson for the declaring from Parliament that “Nepalis’ Why this development was not made working from home using an online medi- and asked those whom they had come Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease immunity is strong” and that Covid-19 public is a mystery, but Baluwatar um,” said Bajgain, who too is waiting for in contact with to take the necessary pre- Hospital. “But since five of his close asso- can be cured by drinking turmeric water. sources say, firstly, there was no need and, Covid-19 test results. cautions. ciates have tested positive, the prime min- “Corona is like the flu,” said Oli while second, the results came negative. But >> Continued on page 2

POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Farmers harvest paddy at Pharping in Kathmandu. Farmers around the country faced shortages of chemical fertilisers during plantation and at the time of top dressing later, leading to fears of a reduced yield despite record high plantation facilitated by a favourable monsoon. Debate rages over current relevance of the anti-corruption commission There is no alternative to making the constitutional watchdog effective, and for that choosing the right person to head it is imperative, experts say.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA cases of petty corruption like in one cians to book. If it continues to fail to KATHMANDU, OCT 3 involving a junior official at a land fulfil its responsibility, what is its rele- revenue office in Kathmandu for all of vance?” The failure has been consistent in dif- Rs 1,000. He was acquitted but not The concept of the commission was ferent ways. before he had committed suicide. envisioned amid concern that existing Either the Commission for In contrast, according to a report by government agencies like the police Investigation of Abuse of Authority Kantipur, the Post’s sister paper, the could not function without political does not file cases against the big commission is preparing to exonerate influence. But, widespread belief is shots allegedly involved in corruption former communications minister that it failed to keep away from the or when it does there is not enough Gokul Baskota, a close confidante of influence of politicians who appoint- evidence against them, meaning there Oli, who was caught on tape negotiat- ed the commission’s officer bearers. has not been enough investigation ing Rs700 million bribe. The chief commissioner and com- into the cases and the court fails to Some experts have started question- missioners are usually retired bureau- acquit them. ing if the institution of the commis- crats and they have close connections Instead, the constitutional body is sion itself is relevant today. The con- with politicians over their long years found to be spending its energies on cerns are being raised at a time when of service and may not be very effec- the ruling and the main opposi- tive at taking action against them. tion parties are reportedly in “Former secretaries do have the negotiations to find the new tendency of looking at hierarchy and chief commissioner after the they tend to forget that the commis- tenure of Nabin Ghimire as sion is an independent institution out- chief came to an end last month. side the influence of the executive,” “It has failed to fulfil its consti- said Bipin Adhikari, an expert on tutional responsibility except in constitutional law and former dean at a few cases,” said Srihari Aryal, Kathmandu University School of Law. an anti-corruption campaigner. Political parties have always tried “It was established since police to ensure that people they can control cannot investigate cases where become the chief commissioner and there are big politicians involved. commissioners. But it has rarely brought politi- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Tenants in the Valley face Decision to designate Deukhuri as discrimination in the capital of Province 5 sparks protests hands of home owners Fourteen NCP provincial assembly members wrote a note of dissent during the parliamentary party meeting.

Many tenants, especially health workers living in rented rooms in GHANASHYAM GAUTAM the Valley, fear getting kicked out if they contract the virus. RUPANDEHI, OCT 3 Members of various political parties, social ANUP OJHA surise their tenants to get tested but they organisations and the general public took to the KATHMANDU, OCT 3 continue to do so. street in several places of Rupandehi to protest “On an average, we conduct PCR tests of the Province 5 government’s proposal to desig- On August 13, Narayani tested positive for 500 people on a daily basis. Of them, over 70 nate Deukhuri of Dang as the provincial capital. Covid-19. A mother of a year-old baby and a percent are being pressured by their land- Stating that the proposal regarding the name staff nurse at Tribhuvan University lords,” said Dr Sagar Raj Bhandari, direc- and capital of Province 5 was registered without Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, the tor at Tropical Hospital. “The city adminis- discussing with other political parties at the pro- 29-year-old stayed at the hospital’s isolation tration should have come up with such a vincial assembly, the Nepali Congress, Janata ward for two weeks after the test results notice earlier and should have worked to Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha came out, leaving her infant in her hus- prevent stigmatisation against health work- demonstrated against the proposal. band’s care. ers. But the city is too indifferent towards Fourteen provincial assembly members of the “My daughter would cry asking for me. its people.” ruling Nepal Communist Party wrote a note of My house owner would come and ask my According to Bhandari, the city’s doctors dissent during the NCP parliamentary party husband about my whereabouts. He had to had requested Kathmandu’s Mayor Bidya meeting held on Saturday. Fifty-seven out of 61 lie to the homeowner, as we feared that we Sundar Shakya multiple times to construct NCP provincial assembly members attended the would be forced to leave our flat if we told an isolation centre for infected health work- meeting. Twenty-one among them spoke during the truth,” said Narayani, who rents a flat ers. Saturday’s meeting and 14 of them—11 members in Koteshwor with her husband. “But he refused to do so. Now, Covid-19 representing Rupandehi and three from neigh- According to Narayani, many other cases are spiking in the Valley and land- bouring Kapilvastu—wrote the note of dissent. health workers are going through the same lords have become more intolerant towards Provincial Minister for Internal Affairs and ordeal. They have to lie about their Covid- health workers,” said Bhandari Law Kul Prasad KC on Friday registered a pro- POST PHOTO: SANJU PAUDEL positive status, fearing social stigma. Mayor Shakya himself was infected with posal at the Provincial Assembly to name Nepali Congress activists took out torch rallies in various places of Rupandehi on Saturday evening. Twenty-four-year-old Kaushila, a nurse Covid-19 on August 31 but was later criti- Province 5 as Lumbini and Deukhuri as its capi- at Bir Hospital, recently tested positive for cised for quarantining with his family at a tal. The proposal was tabled after the decision of federal parliaments on Sunday. No. 1, said, “Our hunger strike will continue the virus. Kaushila, originally from Humla, five star hotel. NCP chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Local units in Rupandehi are also protesting until our demand is addressed. We have also stays at her relative’s place in Kusunti. Gyan Bahadur Oli, the Covid-19 focal Kamal Dahal. The NCP leadership has been crit- against the decision. Issuing a joint statement on started a signature campaign to show solidarity person of the public health division, said icised for intervening in the constitutional rights Saturday evening, the people’s representatives of in the protest.” the city came up with the notice after it of the provincial assembly to determine the 16 local units in the district have requested the Meanwhile, a scooter belonging to Tilottama 70 percent of people came to know that many tenants were being name and capital of the province. government to withdraw the decision. NCP Municipality was torched at Horizon Chok in forcefully sent to get tested for Covid-19. He, The main opposition Nepali Congress Butwal Municipal Committee also released a Butwal on Friday evening. According to Sharada who get tested at Teku however, admitted that the city does not announced a series of protests against the gov- public statement and demanded that the decision Bhattarai, officer at the Education Section of the have any concrete mechanism to deal with ernment’s decision. Birendra Prasad Kanaudiya, be taken back. municipality, the scooter was torched by a group are forcefully sent by the issue. the NC parliamentary party leader, said his party The Butwal Chamber of Commerce and of 15 to 20 individuals. Chief District Officer Janak Raj Dahal stood against the proposal and has been launch- Industry has warned that it would protest against “I didn’t know people were protesting against their house owners. said tenants should go and complain to the ing protests demanding that the decision be with- the decision. The Rupandehi Business the provincial headquarters proposal. I was on nearby police office or to the CDO’s office if drawn. Association has also requested the government my way to Tilottama from Devinagar in Butwal. they face such discrimination from their “The government completely ignored the oppo- to revise the proposal. The decision is not practi- The protesters in Horizon Chowk stopped me and “When the hospital sent an ambulance to homeowners. sition parties and the suggestion of the expert cal and is unforesightful, according to the associ- took the scooter away to be burnt,” she said. take me after my report came positive, my “If they come with written complaints, committee due to its arrogance of the two-thirds ation. On Saturday, the footage of the scooter being aunt told me not to bring the ambulance we are ready to take action. But so far we majority. The NCP took the decision against the Civil society leaders, people’s representatives torched went viral on social media. Pratit Singh near her home because she did not want the have not received any such complaints,” spirit of loktantra and federalism,” said and rights activists started a relay hunger strike Rathour, DSP at the Area Police Office in Butwal, society to know. I had to walk up to said Dahal. Kanaudiya. in Taulihawa, the district headquarters of said, “The scooter was destroyed in the fire. We Ekantakuna to get to the ambulance,” said However, Senior advocate Om Prakash The NC took out torch rallies in various places Kapilvastu, from 4 pm on Saturday. are searching for the arsonists.” Kaushila. Aryal says most people don’t file a police of Rupandehi on Saturday evening. The party “Kapilvastu is the only district that is fit to be According to Rathour, five other government Although she has fully recovered from complaint against their landlords so as not has announced a general strike across the dis- the provincial headquarters,” said Raufa vehicles were also torched in various parts of the virus, Kaushila says she is still being to make the situation more complicated. trict on Sunday. According to NC district secre- Ahamad Khan, adding that they started the hun- Butwal on Friday. treated differently by her relatives. “The problem lies within people. If some tary Ramkrishna Khand, the party activists will ger strike demanding that Kapilvastu be made “My aunt had organised a birthday party of the tenants complain to the police, I stage demonstrations in front of the houses of the capital of Province 5. Amrita Anmol and Sanju Paudel contributed this week but I was not invited to it. My guess other home owners will not misbe- NCP members representing in the provincial and Sudip Paudel, chairman of Kapilvastu Ward reporting. report has already come negative but my have fearing similar results,” said Aryal. relatives think I am still carrying the If such a situation arises, the KMC virus,” she said. should send its officers to Teku Hospital, For many other health workers living in investigate the case, find the accused house rented rooms and flats, the situation is owners and keep them in surveillance, says more severe. They have to live with the fear Aryal. Another suspect of Rautahat brick kiln massacre held that they might be evicted from their home The Criminal Code (Act) 2074 section 166 if they test positive for the coronavirus. states that anyone who obstructs a person SHIVA PURI Singh, head of the provincial arrested two other suspects of the As of Saturday, the number of coronavi- from using private and public property and RAUTAHAT, OCT 3 police. Acting on a tip-off, police incident. Sheikh Seraj and Mukti rus cases in Kathmandu Valley has reached discriminates against anyone shall be liable arrested Sahani as he entered Sah were arrested by police a few 27,918. A total of 25,420 cases have been to upto three years in prison or a fine of Rs Police have arrested a suspect of Nepal from India, according to months ago. Seraj has been taken in detected after the three district administra- 30,000 or both. However, Aryal says its the Rautahat brick kiln massacre Singh. custody while the court released tion offices in the Valley imposed prohibito- implementation is lacking. in which at least two persons were Police had arrested Nepali Sah on bail. ry orders starting August 19 midnight. As for Narayani, she feels that many ten- allegedly burnt alive and many oth- Congress leader Mohammad Aftab The 2008 blast took place in the Officials at the Teku based Sukraraj ants in the city fear being kicked out for ers were injured 13 years ago. Alam in October 2019 for his shed belonging to Sheikh Idris, Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital contracting the virus more than the virus Badri Sahani, a resident of involvement in the blast. The charg- Alam’s uncle, on the previous day said over 70 percent of people who come to itself. Simraungadh Municipality-4 in es of attempted murder and hold- of the elections of Constituent get tested for Covid-19 are forcefully sent by “I have seen many of my friends get Bara district, was arrested from ing and transporting explosive Assembly-I. Police had filed a their house owners. infected with the coronavirus. But the Bankul in Rautahat near the Nepal- materials have been registered charge sheet claiming that Alam The Public Health Division of Kathmandu house owners are more dangerous than the India border on Friday evening. against 11 people involved in the and his men had thrown Trilok Metropolitan City last week had issued a virus because if they kick us out of their Preparations are underway to pres- Rautahat brick kiln massacre. The Pratap Singh and Osi Akhtar into notice requesting house owners not to pres- homes, where will we go? ” said Narayani. ent him before the Rautahat District suspects also face the charges of the kiln’s furnace after the blast. Court on Sunday, said police. burning injured people alive in a Trilok’s father Shrinarayan “Sahani, 55, went into hiding brick kiln to destroy evidence. Singh and Akhtar’s mother after the bomb blast in Fradahawa, Alam, who was elected to the feder- POST FILE PHOTO Roksana Khatun had lodged com- Rajpur, in 2008. A team from the al parliament from Rautahat-2 in Badri Sahani plaints against Alam and his Provincial Police Office in the 2017 elections, is in judicial accomplices after the explosion. Janakpur detained him from custody in Nakkhu jail. were killed and injured in the blast Alam and three others had been Baudhimai Municipality-7. Search According to police, Sahani was as per the instruction of Alam. DIG arrested a few months after the is on to arrest seven other suspects the head technician at the kiln Singh said that Sahani has admit- explosion but they were released of the massacre,” said Deputy when the incident took place. He ted to his involvement in the crime. later. An unidentified group gunned Inspector General Dhiraj Pratap was accused of burning people that Besides Alam, police have also down Khatun in 2011. Debate rages over current relevance ... Coronavirus >> Continued from page 1 said Adhikari. “For this, the role of the prime minis- During the period of Nepal’s political transition ter, who heads the constitutional council, remains sneaks into after 2006, the position of the chief commissioner crucial.” remained vacant till 2013 as there were frequent Adhikari thinks it would be better to make an changes of government and political parties could not ex-judge, whose track record is admirable, the chief Baluwatar ... agree on anyone. commissioner, as they usually function outside the >> Continued from page 1 But after they finally agreed to appoint Lokman influence of the executive during their career. Oli’s personal physician Dibya Singh Karki to head the anti-corruption body, its “But constitutional amendment will be necessary Singh Shah too had tested positive for image nosedived. for this,” he added. In India, half of the eight-member the coronavirus some nine days ago Karki was a controversial figure, allegedly involved team of Lokpal, a similar institution like the and that too, according to doctors, is a in gold smuggling and, most controversially, playing a Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, cause for concern. crucial role in suppressing people’s movement in 2006. are the former judges. “Why was there no declaration from “His move to run a parallel power centre again A bill to amend the Commission for Investigation of Baluwatar about the prime minister exposed the danger of unrestricted power in the Abuse of Authority Act has been registered at the going into quarantine?” said a doctor hands of an unelected institution,” said Aryal, who is National Assembly, to authorise the watchdog to look who spoke on condition of anonymity. a senior lawyer and former president of Transparency into non-governmental organisations and banks. US President Trump had declared International Nepal, an anti-corruption advocacy According to the bill, banking agencies, medical on October 1 that he and Melania group. colleges, public limited companies, institutions receiv- Trump were beginning the Karki’s relentless drive to run a parallel power cen- ing funds from any of the three tiers of government, in quarantine process after a senior tre was halted only after a group of legislators regis- addition to any institution designated a “public insti- adviser who was often with the couple tered an impeachment motion against him at the tution” in the Nepal Gazette, fall within the purview tested positive. Parliament Secretariat. The scrapping of his appoint- of the commission. ment by the Supreme Court in January 2017 restored “It should also be authorised to look after transac- balance in favour of politicians, many of whom were tions of political parties and their leaders as that Oli’s physician targets of Karki. would be one way to bring political corruption under “Only by appointing competent persons with integ- control,” said Aryal, the senior advocate. Dibya Singh Shah rity as chief commissioner and commissioners can Currently, only the Election Commission looks after the commission be made effective,” said Om Prakash the transactions of parties and it does not do that effec- too tested positive Aryal, the advocate who filed a case against Karki in tively enough. Another senior advocate, Shambu the Supreme Court. “But politicians seek to appoint Thapa has a more radical proposal to make the com- for the coronavirus. persons who will not target them in the future for cor- mission more effective. ruption.” “It is better to have a separate service for the com- It is not only politicians but also some commission- mission under the civil service, which will help However, there has been no word ers who have been accused of corruption and cases increase the professionalism among the staff there,” from Baluwatar despite at least Oli’s against them have not moved forward. said Thapa. “A system of appointing commissioners five close associates testing positive The commission itself filed a corruption case from within that service could be developed and this for the coronavirus. against former chief commissioner Deep Basnyat in would help bring independence in its functioning.” Dr Baburam Marasini, former the case of Baluwatar land scam and he is also facing With corruption rampant within the government director at the Epidemiology and separate investigation from the Department of system, there is no alternative to having a watchdog Disease Control Division, said it is the Money Laundering Investigation on charges of trans- and making it effective, experts agree. right of the public to know the health fer of properties illegally earned by him to the foreign “People’s expectations of the commission are condition of the country’s chief exec- countries. high. So it is natural that people are disappointed utive. Another ex-commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak also with the delivery of the commission,” said Surya “It would have been better if the faced corruption case at the Special Court after he was Nath Upadhyay, former chief commissioner of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat had caught in a video tape admitting that he had received commission. made such information public,” the graft of Rs7.8 million to settle the issue of an engi- “It is necessary that an anti-corruption body Marasini told the Post. “Telling people neering college in Bhaktapur. remains even to create an environment of fear among about the health condition and test “So it is essential that the constitutional council those who try to be involved in corruption,” Adhikari reports of the prime minister is a appoint good and clean persons to the anti-graft body,” said. democratic culture.”

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020

C M Y K SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 | 04 OPINION Why a new development model?

producers. As a result, even with an Except for employment in installed capacity of over 2,200 mega- watts, Sikkim carries staggering debt the low-skill segments, no burdens. With a firm 39 megawatts capacity in 2000, Sikkim made major development benefits unplanned, unscientific and unprofes- sional interventions without any are retained in Sikkim. institutional capability and regulato- ry agency. Over 20 projects have either been discontinued or terminated or MAHENDRA P LAMA are in the judicial realms at huge financial, administrative and environ- mental costs to the state. The leakages were inevitable and the technical and commercial loss remains at 29 percent incurring over Rs680 million in losses annually.

The economies of the Eastern Severe ills Himalaya have mostly followed a Despite strong local sensitivity, an growth model that has intrinsic and overwhelming portion of the hotel complex mechanisms of promoting and concomitant businesses are leased the outflow of development multipli- out to management partners from out- ers. While defying and disproving side. It is estimated that the outflow of most of the orthodox theoretical three-fourths of the benefits injected underpinnings of development, the by the over 1.5 million annual tourist highlands in Nepal, Bhutan and vari- arrivals actually makes the lowlands ous hill provinces in India have uncon- happier and more prosperous. The sciously recorded a trend of siphon- pari passu benefits to the locals are ing off the cream of development not at all robust. The state govern- mostly to the lowlands or the main- ment has been a silent policy support- stream theatres. One can attribute er. Many of us in the State Planning this deleteriously unending phenome- Commission tried to permanently cor- non to the dominant and mindless rect these severe ills and predatory development planning far away from practices in the early 2000s; but the the remote action centres. The agents political leadership was numb and involved in the process are primarily indifferent, and surreptitiously outsiders with a huge capital base, brought policies that actually consoli- entrepreneurial history and dated this virulent process. As a market capture. The underdeveloped result, Sikkim’s dependence on nature of physical infrastructures, finances from the centre and debts has nascent institutional structures immensely deepened. and the very presence of Therefore, the vision, commitment government in the form of tightly and sagacity of the political leader- bureaucratised systems make the hills ship to usher in a new growth model and mountains deeply vulnerable to are the first-order conditions of long- backwardness syndrome and incre- term peace, stability and happiness in mental practices. SHUTTERSTOCK Sikkim. The change in the govern- Several examples can be cited. ployed to build lowland industries like these incentives remained. In this more importantly, development budg- this value chain realisation. Sikkim ment and political leadership in 2019 Darjeeling’s tea industry is a typical jute, sugar, leather, tobacco and other case, too, the cream of development ets. In the last more than two decades, was one of the highest global produc- has been a significant and blessed example of how the outflow of devel- business ventures. flowed down to the lowlands as prof- in all these critical development ers of cardamom. departure. The present Chief Minister opment gains has consistently it-driven entrepreneurs had no ink- parameters and performance varia- A more telling story has been that Prem Singh Tamang, an astutely saga- occurred and been institutionalised. Vicious practice ling of development commitments. bles, this highland state remained a of the manufacturing sector like phar- cious and popular politician, has a The very pattern of ownership, modes The states in Northeast India and the The failure of the respective state laggard. The core attribution to this maceuticals where some of the top non-traditional responsibility of of the production system and linkages Western Himalaya have witnessed government to devise ways and means laggard syndrome could be once brands of India have set up their facto- reversing the development model with the markets ensure that nothing this vicious practice even in the pro- to monitor some of these ‘fly by night again pinpointed to the steady and ries in Sikkim, mostly to harness both itself that kept Sikkim superficially in remains in Darjeeling except low cess of operationalising special devel- operators’, legally retain them for at unhindered outflow of development the North East Industrial and a high-growth regime with questiona- wages and fringe benefits to the work- opment packages generously extended least a few decades and institutional- benefits. Investment Promotion Policy and the ble feats and achievements. Rebuilding ers. Most of the sales proceeds derived by the government of India like the ise the participative process has led to This phenomenon is widely preva- North East Industrial Development a class of local entrepreneurs, inject- from both national and global markets North East Industrial and Investment a huge industrial development vacu- lent across sectors. In agriculture, Scheme. With the manufacturing sec- ing newer technology and skills, get directed to metropolitans, consist- Promotion Policy (1997-2014) and the um and credibility gap as reflected in Sikkim’s most valuable cash crop, car- tor suddenly sharing 62 percent, the bringing a variety of national institu- ently usurped by merchant capitalists North East Industrial Development increasing local resistance to such damom, has developed a value chain state gross output has galloped. tions, rejuvenating the rural econo- and other intermediaries. Only a Scheme (2017-22). Under these packag- outside participation. wherein farmers receive hardly 10 to However, its impact on the state’s rev- mies, inducting global multilateral trickle flows down to the hapless es, investors, mostly from the low- The most glaring example has been 20 percent of total realisations as the enue generation is very negligible as development and philanthropic organ- workers who actually struggle for gen- lands, enjoyed unparallel incentives that of Sikkim. With the third-highest supplier of raw cardamom. The rest the raw materials, packaging ameni- isations, and playing a key role in erations to recover their own savings in these ‘special category states’ of 100 per capita income of Rs357,000 and the of the value chain, including the last ties and carriers and warehousing are Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s of gratuity and provident funds. The percent income tax and excise duty state gross domestic production critical segment of processed spices, brought from and located outside India’s Act East Policy must adorn much-celebrated new dictum of ‘fair exemptions, capital investment and growing at 11 percent, Sikkim should ingredients in pan parag and pharma- Sikkim. Except employment in the this government’s agenda for the next trading’ has actually justifiably con- transport subsidies and interest and have been a model of development in ceuticals, remains outside the state low-skill segments, no major develop- decade or so. solidated these outflows. Tea workers insurance benefits. Many of these terms of structural composition, boundary and purview of traditional ment benefits are retained in the state. and people at large remain as ignorant entrepreneurs who had never climbed employment generation, institutional- farmers. The agents in value addi- This sordid story abounds in haphaz- Lama is leading a team to prepare and deprived in terms of how their the hills found the highlands suddenly ised progress, availability of local tions, merchants and partners in mar- ardly drawn contractual conditions North East Region Vision 2035 as part development gains have been rede- fertile and productive, at least till entrepreneurship and skills, and ket disposal, usurp 80 to 90 percent of and trading models with hydropower of NITI Aayog’s India Vision 2035.

Europe’s world-lagging universities need increased funding

There is a need for profound reforms to ensure that European universities are at the top.

LUIS GARICANO

One of the many negative consequenc- es of Brexit is that what was an educa- tional superpower on the global stage has become a second-rate contender. With the United Kingdom’s departure, the European Union has lost first-rate universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, Imperial College London, and my old home, the London School of Economics. Worse, Brexit has revealed a truth that is highly inconvenient to European policymakers: the EU’s remaining universities are nowhere to be found at the top of world rankings. In the 2020 QS World University Ranking, the top EU university is at number 50 (Delft University of Technology). In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the EU’s top representative is the SHUTTERSTOCK University of Paris-Sud, at 37. In the endeavour, research talent is highly Japanese, and China, South Korea, Innovation and Technology (EIT), pendent and results-oriented fashion. European University in his 2017 Times Higher Education World concentrated: good researchers like to and Taiwan account for the remaining endowed with a budget of 2.4 billion As Philippe Aghion and other research- Sorbonne speech, but, as with many University Rankings, it is the work with other good researchers, and four. EU officials should appreciate ($2.8 billion) in the last EU budget. ers have shown, European universi- of the other good ideas contained in University of Munich, at 32. By con- isolated talent is expensive. the significance of Europe’s absence Never heard of it? Neither had I until ties’ lack of competition and autonomy that address, Europe has done little trast, Switzerland, China, Japan, and Moreover, continental university from that ranking. a few months ago. In traditional hinders their performance. The EU about it. the rest of East Asia’s developed systems—most notably in Germany, To address it, the EU needs to act to European fashion, the EU’s members should launch a ‘good governance’ pro- When Europe has the will, it can economies all have universities near France, Italy, and Spain—are hindered secure funding and improve govern- could not agree on where to locate it; ject to diffuse best practices such as effectively deliver truly effective joint the top of some or all of the major by antiquated, bureaucratic, and often ance. Currently, the best source of although they decided on Budapest, effective accountability mechanisms, research initiatives, like the ERC, that rankings. endogamic governance systems. It is funding is the European Research in effect it has become a virtual uni- merit-based grants, and greater compe- incorporate research insights into The most common response I have difficult to obtain outside funding, Council. It funds outstanding individ- versity. tition for students and faculty. university performance. If we are to encountered among EU officials is hard to spend it, and challenging to ual researchers in a meritocratic and It has also been an unqualified fail- As part of this ‘good governance’ achieve global technological leader- denial of reality. When challenged, top hire top researchers. As a result, in all transparent way without regard for ure. But this failure has not impelled project, resources that are currently ship, as the Commission’s recent European Commission officials sim- these countries, top universities are a geographic balance. Shockingly, the the EU to rethink the EIT. The spent on the EIT could be used to set White Paper on Artificial Intelligence ply say: ‘I don’t believe in rankings’, pale reflection of their glorious pasts. European Council’s July agreement European Parliament is reviewing up a new fund that would reward only argues we should, we must put our and extol the wonders of EU member The consequences of these prob- launching the Recovery Fund reduces limited aspects of it, but the report the best European universities and money where our mouths are and states’ universities. lems are evident: without sufficient substantially the resources initially will be a whitewash. Properly used, departments in terms of research and press for profound reforms to ensure To be sure, there is a solid ‘upper- resources and good governance, our promised to the European Research the money now being wasted on the teaching. This new framework would that European universities are where middle-class’ of European universi- universities cannot lead in key areas Council, the only effective tool that EIT could lay the groundwork for a aim to create incentives for institu- they belong: at the top. ties: the Netherlands and Sweden have like artificial intelligence and biotech- Europe has to raise is the level of its proper frontier institution. tions to strive for excellence and adapt several. What we lack are excellent nologies. And without leading research sector. This is an unaccept- But funding is not enough. All conti- their governance and management Garicano, Head of the Ciudadanos institutions: universities that can research universities, the EU cannot able response to what is a critical nental European universities share the practices to an objective-based fund- delegation in the European attract the world’s best researchers in compete in the global technological situation for the European university same antiquated governance systems, ing system. Parliament, is Vice President and any given field and offer them a hefty race. It is no wonder that eight of the sector. which prevent them from making cru- Sadly, none of this is a priority for Economic Coordinator of the Renew salary and ample research funds. The world’s top 15 technology companies Europe has another source of avail- cial decisions, such as budgetary allo- EU institutions. French President Group. truth is that, like in other fields of by revenue are American. Three are able funds: the European Institute of cations and hiring choices, in an inde- Emmanuel Macron did propose a —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 MONEY India to waive UK’s Johnson certain interest As border with China is closed, Nepali upbeat on EU trade levies on loans in carpets in Taplejung find no market deal before key talks ASSOCIATED PRESS Covid-19 relief Traditional carpets from the district are sought after across the border for their warmth, price, and durability, traders say. LONDON, OCT 3 REUTERS British Prime Minister Boris Johnson NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, OCT 3 ANANDA GAUTAM pounded the problem of unsold car- said on Saturday that “there’s a good TAPLEJUNG, OCT 3 pets, as they continue to pile up with deal to be done” with the European The Indian government has told the no buyers in sight. Union on post-Brexit trade, as he pre- Supreme Court it will waive certain Yangi Sherpa has 36 pieces of hand- It normally takes 12 days to weave a pared for crunch talks with the head interest levies on loans up to 20 mil- made woollen carpets piled up at her carpet but it can be done in less time, of the bloc’s executive arm. lion rupees ($272,888) under a Covid-19 home in Olangchung Gola, located in around 8 to 9 days if a woman weaves Johnson told reporters that the support plan, a legal filing showed, in the mountainous area northwest of continuously. Traditionally, men do UK wants a free trade deal along the a move that will bring relief to mil- Taplejung bordering Tibet, China. not weave carpets as they take care of lines of the one the EU has with lions of borrowers. She had been planning to sell them the yaks. Canada, but is also prepared for nego- While the government did not to traders who then export it to China Last year, Tasi Bhote, a local of tiations to fail. disclose the impact on the banking but the Covid-19 pandemic changed Fangatalung Rural Municipality, went “We’re resolved on either course, sector, an analyst at credit everything. to Tibet to sell carpets and other we’re prepared for either course and ratings firm ICRA estimated it will Buyers from China disappeared goods. “Nepali carpets were the first we’ll make it work, but it’s very much cost New Delhi a maximum of after both Nepal and China closed item to be sold out,” he said. up to our friends and partners,” 50-70 billion rupees ($682 million-$955 their borders in a bid to contain the He normally travels to Ghumti Johnson said. million). spread of the coronavirus. Bazaar and Riu in China, around 50 He and European Commission “We expect the impact to be mini- Many of the families living in kilometres from Tipta La to buy essen- President Ursula von der Leyen will mal on profitability of lenders,” said Olangchung Gola are engaged in tials using the money earned from try to break an impasse in negotia- ICRA’s Anil Gupta. weaving carpets. Out of 52 houses in selling carpets. tions during a videoconference later An Indian optician from Agra had the area, 37 have carpet weaving According to Donga Sherpa, traders Saturday. challenged the plan which allowed machines. Some families even hire in Riu buy Nepali carpets in bulk and Britain left the EU politically in skipping repayments for six months workers to produce carpets. The fami- last year, the carpets were sold out by January after more than 45 years but levied an additional “inter- lies make carpets with various September. of membership, but remains est-on-interest” on delayed payments designs, from monochromatic to POST PHOTO: ANANDA GAUTAM “A Chinese family purchases 10 to 12 economically tied to the bloc until a which borrowers called unfair. multi-coloured ones and are popular A woman weaves a carpet at her home in Olangchung Gola. It normally takes a person 12 days carpets at a single time. The first pur- Brexit transition period ends on Other borrowers, including real in China. to complete a carpet. chase for a new home in China is a December 31. estate companies and power utilities, The thread used in carpet weaving carpet,” said Dongga, who has been to The two parties are trying to strike also challenged the plan. is brought in from China while Mikwakhola Rural Municipality-5 Most of the locals in the area Tibet to sell carpets several times in a rudimentary trade deal before then, In a filing on October 2 with the chemicals used to colour the yarn are Papung have also not been sold,” he are farmers, with men usually the past. to avoid a barrage of uncertainty, tar- Supreme Court, seen by Reuters, the imported from Darjeeling of India and said. The traders and weavers target tending to yaks and mountain cows The Nepali made carpets are also a iffs and red tape that would hurt econ- government said it had decided to Kathmandu. Chinese buyers as they pay more for year-round while women go about popular gift item among VIPs visiting omies on both sides. waive the compounding interest com- Carpet weaving is an ancestral pro- the carpets compared to domestic household chores and knit woollen the area. It is a custom in the district But while negotiators have inched ponent on small-business and some fession and every woman learns the shoppers. carpets, which the area exports and is to present a carpet as a farewell gift to close to agreement in many areas dur- other loans related to education and craft from their parents. Chinese buyers usually buy two car- famous for. high-ranking government officials ing six months of talks, they remain housing, and credit card dues. But traders have not been able to pets while domestic shoppers buy one But with the lockdown forcing even and chief district officers, according deadlocked over European fishing “The government bearing this bur- sell the exportable product since at a time. Traders are able to sell a the men to stay at home, women are to Mukti Poudel, a trader who used to boats’ access to UK waters, and over den would naturally have an impact Tiptala Pass was closed initially in pair for 2,000 yuan (Rs34,500 approx). offloading household chores to their sell carpets from the district head- the level of support governments can on several other pressing commit- mid-November due to the cold and “Chinese consumers prefer Nepali husbands and focusing on making quarters Phungling. give to industry. ments being faced by the nation, later in mid-December due to Covid- carpets because they are comparative- more carpets, hoping the border will But that tradition is slowly disap- The EU is concerned that British including meeting direct cost associat- 19. Trade with China is a major eco- ly cheap, good, long-lasting and open soon. pearing as more carpets make their plans to subsidize sectors such ed with pandemic management,” the nomic activity for the residents of warm,” said Sherpa. Chunga Sherpa has already woven way to China instead of being sold as technology will amount to unfair filing added. If the government were Olangchung Gola. With sales non-existent, carpet pro- 32 carpets and stacked them in a room, locally. “Employees who did not competition. to consider a complete waiver of inter- As a result, more than 500 carpets ducing families are now desperately ready to be sold. Every morning, as receive a gift of carpet used to be “We should not forget that we have est payments over a six-month mora- have been piled up in one settlement looking for buyers who can order their part of her daily worship, she lights able to buy one for themselves but made progress on many, many differ- torium period, as some had sought, it alone, according to Chetan Lama product and pay in cash. They depend incense sticks, wishing for the border traders have started to divert local ent fields. But, of course, the most would cost 6 trillion rupees ($82 bil- Sherpa. “Additionally, carpets made in heavily on carpet sales for household to reopen in order to sell her carpets. stocks to China in the past few years,” difficult ones are still completely lion), the filing said. Yangma of the same ward and expenses. The increased output has com- said Poudel. open,” von der Leyen said Friday.

FOREX US government appeals judge’s ruling US Dollar 117.34 Harvest workers

Euro 137.49 Pound Sterling 151.78 among Covid world’s to block WeChat app store ban Japanese Yen 11.16 REUTERS Alliance, the group behind the legal Chinese Yuan 17.28 WASHINGTON, OCT 3 challenge to the WeChat ban, said on Friday the department “has still pre- Qatari Riyal 32.23 last regular travellers The US Justice Department on Friday sented no compelling national securi- said it was appealing a judge’s deci- ty interest to justify such an unprece- Australian Dollar 83.94 ASSOCIATED PRESS and speaks flawless Italian. She was in sion to block the government from dented ban” and will oppose the effort. ROCCA DE’ GIORGI (ITALY), OCT 3 Malaysian Ringit 28.19 Romania with her father when the barring Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s The group noted Tencent tried to coronavirus outbreak first struck Google from offering Chinese-owned negotiate a settlement with the Saudi Arab Riyal 31.28 Her hands were hardly visible, so Italy earlier this year, working in a messaging app WeChat for download Commerce Department and offered a quickly did they press the clippers steering wheel factory, which later in US app stores. number of mitigation measures to Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank before dropping grape clusters into sent her home during Romania’s virus The government said it was appeal- address data security concerns. red plastic bins. Some distance behind lockdown. She left to join her mother ing the September 19 preliminary Beeler said WeChat users “have PRICE PER TOLA her, in the next row over, Italian stu- nearly as soon as the borders reo- junction issued by US Magistrate shown serious questions going to the BULLION dents subbing in due to a pandem- pened. At the time, Romania’s Judge Laurel Beeler to the 9th US REUTERS merits of the First Amendment ic-fuelled worker shortage tried vainly infection rate was low and no quaran- Circuit Court of Appeals. The injunc- WeChat is an all-in-one mobile app that claim.” The US Constitution’s First Fine Gold Rs 94,300 to catch up. tine was required, but within a few tion blocked the US Commerce combines services similar to Facebook, Amendment guarantees freedom Though from a Romanian region weeks, a 14-day quarantine was Department order, which would also WhatsApp, Instagram and Venmo. of speech. Silver Rs 1,175 famed for its wine, Alexandra Ichim required in Italy for travellers from bar other US transactions with WeChat has had an average of 19 had never worked in vineyards before Romania and Bulgaria. Tencent Holding’s WeChat, potential- “permits the continued, unfettered million daily active users in the SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA traveling to Italy’s Lombardy region One province, Trento, allowed ly making the app unusable in the use of WeChat, a mobile application United States, analytics firms for the September grape harvest, farms and vineyards to put in place United States. that the Executive Branch has deter- Apptopia said in early August. It is known in Italian as the vendemmia— “working quarantines,” where masked A US spokesman for Tencent did not mined constitutes a threat to the popular among Chinese students, GASOLINE WATCH the pay is too low in Romania and the seasonal labourers could work outside immediately comment. national security and foreign policy of Americans living in China and some working conditions too harsh, she in their own clusters and stay in hous- The Justice Department said earlier the United States.” Americans who have personal or busi- says. For the Italian work, the 20-year- ing on site. that Beeler’s order was in error and Lawyers for the US WeChat Users ness relationships in China. old came on a 12-hour bus ride and “A company cannot afford to keep a returned by plane to her native Arad foreigner for 14 days without putting region when the harvest was done. him to work. This is obviously an Eastern European seasonal work- unsustainable cost,” said Roberto ers, led by Romanians, are considered Caponi, of the Italian agriculture con- Government of Nepal (GoN) essential to getting food on the table federation. Nor can the fruit itself Ministry of Finance throughout the continent. Their will- wait, as Ottavia Gorgi di Vistarino ingness to work hard in uncertain jobs knows well. Financial Comptroller General Office, Anamnagar for lower wages is sought after abroad, Her family’s land spans four hill- and their income is desperately need- sides in Rocca de’ Giorgi, a tiny com- ed at home. At a time when travel for mune about 60 kilometres (37 miles) Invitation for Electronic Bids for The Procurement of IT Equipments work is seen as dangerous for every- south of Milan. The harvest starts one, they are among the world’s last with Pino Nero for Spumante, then (Desktop & Laptop Computers) for DTCOs regular border-crossers. Unlike the comes the Chardonnay and Pinot farms that so desperately need them, Grigio, followed by more Pino Nero for IFB No: 05/077/78 there are no subsidies from the red wine. Contract Identification No: NP-FCGO-189910-GO-RFB European Union or special protection Ichim joined a crew for the first should they fall sick. Pino Nero harvest in mid-September, Date of publication:2077/06/18 Around one in five Romanians speeding through the cone-shaped Name of the Development Partner: Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) works abroad. Italy is the top destina- clusters at a breathtaking pace. The tion for 1.2 million of them, with winery’s full-time foreman, Christian 1. Government of Nepal has received a grant from MDTF towards Public Financial Management System Reform France and Spain not far behind. Florisan, also is Romanian from the Programme (PFMRP) and intends to apply part of the funds to cover eligible payments under the Contract for When coronavirus struck, around a Arad region, as are many of the men million returned to their homeland, who work the presses. The Procurement of IT Equipments (Desktop & Laptop Computers) for DTCOs. Bidding is open to all ignoring the Romanian president’s “Corona has brought the agricul- eligible Bidders. plea to stay in place and avoid bring- ture business to its knees more than 2. The Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO) invites electronic bids from eligible bidders for The BIZLINE ing the virus already raging in any others. Everywhere, at home in Western Europe. For many, it was the Romania and here in Italy, we are hav- Procurement of IT Equipments (Desktop & Laptop Computers) for DTCOs under National Competitive bidding longest homecoming of their adult ing difficulties finding people,” said procedures specified in Public Procurement Act and Regulations. Hyatt Regency Kathmandu lives. Workers can make around 1,200 Florisan, who has lived in Italy for 14 3. Eligible Bidders may obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents at the office of Financial reopens with limited service euros a month working eight-hour years. “They are not coming because days during the vendemmia in Italy, they are afraid of Covid, and they are Comptroller General Office, Anamnagar, fcgo.gov.np or may visit e-GP system: www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp. KATHMANDU: Hyatt Regency versus around 700 euros for a month afraid that they will have to do two 4. Bidding documents is available online and can be downloaded from e-GP system: www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp. Kathmandu reopened for business of 10-hour days in Romania. weeks of quarantine and when they with limited service on Saturday. The Ichim has lived off and on in go home, their pockets will be emptier Interested bidders shall register in the e-GP system and deposit the cost of bidding document of Nrs 3000 in the hotel is implementing several safety Lombardy with her mother since 2006 than they were before.” following bank. protocols and procedures to protect the safety of its workers and guests Name of the Bank: Rastriya Banijya Bank, Teku as part of the reopening, states the Name of the Office: Financial Comptroller General Office Office Code No.: 305013501 press release issued by the hotel. Hotel employees will go through a Office Account No.: 1000200010000 Revenue Head No. :14229 wellness check prior to each shift and 5. Pre-bid meeting shall be held at FCGO, Anamnagar at 2:00 PM on 2077/07/06. are required to wear protective masks while on the property. The hotel has 6. Interested Bidders shall submit the electronic Bids through www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp to the above office of partnered with Global Biorisk FCGO, Anamnagar on or before 12:00 PM on 2077/07/18. Advisory Council (GBAC), a division 7. Bids shall be opened in presence of Bidders' representatives who choose to attend on 2:00 PM on 2077/07/18 at of the International Sanitary Supply Association to commit to an accredi- the office of FCGO. Bids must be valid for a period of 90 days counting from the day of bid opening and must tation programme, GBAC STARTM. be accompanied by bid security, amounting to a minimum of Rs 1,37,000.00, which shall be valid for minimum Hyatt is the first hospitality brand to announce plans to commit to the 30 days beyond the bid validity period. accreditation programme which is a 8. If the last date of submission and opening falls on a government holiday, then the next working day shall be performance-based cleaning, disinfec- considered the last day. In such a case the bid validity and bid security validity shall be recognized with effect tion and infectious disease preven- tion programme that focuses on from the original bid submission deadline. establishing hotel environments that AP/RSS Procurement Unit are sanitary, safe and healthy. People work during the grape harvest in Rocca de Giorgi, Italy.

C M Y K SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 | 06 WORLD Cambodia wrecked EXPLAINED US-built facility India’s coronavirus toll passes on naval base, 100,000 with no sign of end What is the treatment researchers say plan for Trump? REUTERS Number of cases could rise to 12.2m by the end of the year but rate of spread would WASHINGTON, OCT 3 REUTERS system and taken by some as depend on how effective measures such as social distancing are, experts say. immune system boosters. Cambodia has demolished a US-built US President Donald Trump on Friday n Heartburn drug famotidine, often facility on the country’s largest naval burning coil, that is my hope, and we said he and his wife Melania had test- sold under the brand name Pepcid. base, according to images published have to play the long game to stop it ed positive for Covid-19, and the White The drug has not been proven to by an American think tank on Friday, from being a wildfire.” House said he was given an experi- work against Covid-19, but research- amid increasing concern in The United States, Brazil and India mental treatment designed to combat ers are studying it as a potential Washington about China’s access to together account for nearly 45 percent the virus as well as a small array of treatment. military bases in the nation. of all Covid-19 deaths globally. treatments including aspirin and n Melatonin, often taken as a sleep The Center for Strategic and Death rates in India, however, have Vitamin D. aid. International Studies (CSIS) pub- been significantly lower than in those Trump, 74, has a slight fever, a n Aspirin, which Trump previously lished images which it said showed other two countries, raising questions source said, and was taken to Walter has said he takes daily. Aspirin can that the Cambodian government last about the accuracy of its data. Reed military hospital for several days help avoid heart attacks and is a month demolished a building that India has, on average, less than one as a precaution. Trump’s gender, age fever reducer. the United States had built at Ream death from the disease for every 10,000 and weight make him more vulnera- Grein said the president is likely Naval Base. people while the United States and ble to developing severe Covid-19, and being closely monitored, and would be Last year the Pentagon had asked Brazil have seen six deaths per 10,000. give him a notional risk of around 4 given extra oxygen or fluids if needed. Cambodia to explain why it turned US Pre sident Donald Trump, percent of dying from it, health Supportive care would depend on down an offer to repair the base, say- defending his administration’s han- experts said. symptoms: things such as cough syrup ing the decision had raised specula- dling of the pandemic in this week’s or fever-reducing drugs. tion of possible plans for hosting presidential debate, said countries What is the experimental treatment China’s military. such as India were under-reporting Trump is taking? How about hydorxychloriquine? The Pentagon on Friday said it was deaths. concerned about reports that the Shashank Tripathi, of the Centre One of the most anticipated classes of Trump early in the pandemic backed US-funded Cambodian Navy tactical for Infectious Disease Research at the experimental Covid-19 drugs is mono- the idea of using anti-malaria drug headquarters facility had been demol- Indian Institute of Science in clonal antibodies: manufactured cop- hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19. ished and had asked the Cambodian Bengaluru, acknowledged there could ies of human antibodies to the virus. In May, the president said he was tak- government for an explanation. be problems with the data though The injected antibodies are designed ing the drug to prevent an infection. “We have concerns that razing the India’s young population might help to begin fighting the virus immediate- The FDA briefly allowed use before in facility may be tied to Cambodia explain the lower death rate. ly and are being developed to prevent June withdrawing an emergency use government plans for hosting “In India, even without a pandemic, and treat Covid-19. authorization, saying it had deter- People’s Republic of China (PRC) mil- all deaths are not properly registered,” The technique is already in wide mined hydroxychloroquine was not itary assets and personnel at Ream Tripathi said. use for treating a range of illnesses. effective. Naval Base,” the Pentagon said in a “I’m not very confident that the Data so far is limited for Covid-19 anti- statement. AP/RSS mortality rates reflect the right num- bodies, but US infectious disease chief What happens if Trump’s condition The Cambodian embassy in A man sits outside a Covid-19 centre in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Saturday. bers, though the younger demograph- Dr Anthony Fauci is among those worsens? Washington did not immediately ic has given us some advantage.” saying it has promise. respond to a request for comment. REUTERS the middle of this month. Representatives of the health Trump is taking an antibody cock- Trump was moved to hospital in case The Cambodian government has BENGALURU/NEW DELHI, OCT 3 Heading into winter and the ministry and the Indian Council tail being tested by Regeneron his condition deteriorates. “It is not denied reports that China had reached holiday season, including the Hindu of Medical Research did not immedi- Pharmaceuticals Inc, which has uncommon for patients to have symp- a secret deal with Cambodia to let it India’s death toll from the novel coro- festival of Diwali next month, the ately respond to calls or emails for reported improved symptoms in toms for several weeks. Some can get place forces at the base, saying that navirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, world’s second most populous country comment. non-hospitalised Covid-19 patients, worse well into the second week of hosting foreign forces would be only the third country in the world to could see a jump in cases, health Health experts said there could be with no serious side effects in trials. illness,” Dr Grein said. against Cambodia’s constitution. reach that bleak milestone, after the experts said. greater immunity in India because of For patients hospitalised with The base is southeast of the port United States and Brazil, and its epi- “We have seen some recent slow- the high incidence of infectious dis- What are the approved treatments Covid-19, the FDA has given emergen- city of Sihanoukville, center of a demic shows no sign of abating. down of the virus curve but this may eases such as tuberculosis. Nearly for ‘mild’ Covid-19? cy-use authorisation for two treat- Chinese-led casino boom and a Total deaths rose to 100,842, the be a local peak, there may be another 1,200 people in India die of TB every ments: Veklury, also known as remde- Chinese-run Special Economic Zone. health ministry said, while the tally of coming,” said Bhramar Mukherjee, a day, roughly the same as deaths from “There are no treatments to date that sivir, an intravenous antiviral drug Cambodia is one of China’s closest infections climbed to 6.47 million after professor of biostatistics and epidemi- Covid-19. have been really established to be sold by Gilead Sciences, which has allies in Southeast Asia and a daily increase in cases of 79,476. ology at the University of Michigan. Kamakshi Bhate, professor emeri- effective in this phase of illness. At been shown to shorten hospital stays, has received billions of dollars of India now has the highest rate of daily She said data showed a little over 7 tus of community medicine at the this point, it is really symptomatic and convalescent plasma derived from Chinese aid as well as political increase in infections in the world. percent of the population of 1.3 billion King Edward Memorial Hospital in and supportive care,” Dr Jonathan the blood of people who have survived backing for authoritarian Prime Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s had been exposed to the virus, mean- Mumbai, said she didn’t expect India’s Grein, director of hospital epidemiol- the disease. Minister Hun Sen in the face of government, faced with a collapsing ing India was still far from any sort of death toll to surge dramatically ogy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Hospitals also commonly use the Western criticism. economy after imposing a tough lock- herd immunity. even as the virus spreads into dense Los Angeles, who is not involved in generic steroid dexamethasone, which Cambodia has been wary of down to try to stem the spread of the The number of cases could rise to population clusters and across the treating Trump, said in a telephone was shown to improve survival for superpower rivalry since being virus in late March, is pushing ahead 12.2 million by the end of the year but countryside. interview. patients hospitalised with critical devastated by fighting between with a full opening of the country. the rate of spread would depend on “People were expecting that entire Trump’s doctor said the president is Covid-19 who need extra oxygen. But US and Chinese proxy forces in the Cinemas were allowed to re-open at how effective measures such as social slums would get wiped out but it didn’t taking several medicines, including: the steroid shouldn’t be used in people 1970s that culminated in the Khmer half capacity this week and authori- distancing were, she said. happen that way. We have our own n Vitamin D and mineral zinc, both of with mild illness since it can limit the Rouge genocide. ties can decide to re-open schools from “So it will continue like a slow resistance,” she said. which are important to the immune body’s ability to combat the virus.

BRIEFING Pope Benedict XVI

Five police suspended approved bishop accord over India gang-rape NEW DELHI: Five senior police officers have been suspended over their han- with China, Vatican says dling of an investigation into the gang-rape and murder of a 19-year- ASSOCIATED PRESS Francis eventually signed in 2018. old woman that has sparked outrage ROME, OCT 3 Parolin’s assertion that Benedict across India and triggered days of had approved the draft is significant protests. The seriously injured teen- The Vatican doubled down Saturday and was aimed at silencing some of ager from the disadvantaged Dalit on its intent to pursue continued dia- Francis’ conservative critics, many caste was found in mid-September logue with China over bishop nomina- of whom are nostalgic for Benedict’s outside her village in northern tions, defending a deal it did with the conservative papacy and have used India’s Uttar Pradesh state and died Chinese government in 2018 as neces- the China agreement to undermine this week in a New Delhi hospital. sary to the life of the Catholic Church Francis. The police have arrested four high- there, over strong US objections. The Vatican is seeking to extend the caste men on charges of gang-rape The Vatican secretary of state, deal with China, which envisages a and murder. But the police have faced Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave the Holy process of dialogue in selecting bish- criticism for cremating the woman’s See’s most authoritative and compre- ops. It signed it in 2018 in hopes it body in the middle of the night— hensive response to critics of the would help unite China’s Catholics, reportedly with the help of some pet- extended accord during a speech who for seven decades have been split rol—against the wishes of her family marking the 150th anniversary of the between those belonging to an official, and religious custom. arrival in China of Catholic mission- state-sanctioned church and an under- aries from an Italian religious order. ground church loyal to Rome. Parolin insisted that popes as far The question of bishop nomina- Johnson ‘optimistic’ over back as Pius XII had tried to reopen a tions has long vexed Vatican-China Brexit deal ahead of talks path of dialogue with Beijing after the relations, with the Holy See insisting communists came to power and on the pope’s divine right to name LONDON: UK Prime Minister Boris expelled foreign missionaries. And he the successors of the apostles Johnson said he was “pretty optimis- confirmed that Emeritus Pope and Beijing considering such nomina- AP/RSS tic” a Brexit deal could be reached as Benedict XVI had approved the draft tions foreign infringement on its Damages are seen inside an apartment in a residential area after shelling during a military conflict in self-proclaimed Republic of he prepared for talks on Saturday accord that the Vatican under Pope sovereignty. Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, Azerbaijan, on Saturday. with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to determine the next steps in the fraught negotiations. Johnson told The Daily Telegraph that the pros- pects of a year-end deal to avoid an abrupt Brexit separation “are very good if everybody just exercises some Asia allies likely to bide time as election looms over Pompeo trip common sense and looks at the deal that is there to be done”. The com- REUTERS virus that has killed more than a Pompeo’s highly charged recent rheto- ing Asian countries, ‘We are not ‘Speak softly; carry a big stick, but ments came ahead of a videoconfer- WASHINGTON, OCT 3 million people around the world, ric and remain wary of going too far asking you to make a choice,’ but in speak softly.’” ence with von der Leyen to take stock and has made a hard line against in openly antagonizing China. the end, they are asking them to make Pompeo has led the rhetorical of progress made in the latest round A warm welcome and expressions of Beijing a central part of his Nov. 3 “Everyone knows that the US is the a choice.” assault on China, accusing Beijing of of talks. solidarity against China likely await re-election bid. number-one security partner, but The US election is another factor. covering up the Covid-19 outbreak and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Most Asian allies have been pleased China is their number-one trading Trump could lose to Democrat Joe of using nefarious means to attempt Canadian warship sails next week when he visits East Asia for with Washington’s toughness toward partner,” said Miyeon Oh, an Asia Biden, or win re-election and poten- to displace the United States as the the first time in over a year, but the their regional rival, but have not so security specialist at the Atlantic tially harden his stance on China. world’s leading power, while brutally near Taiwan looming US election means Asian eagerly welcomed Trump and Council. “The US government is tell- Until the results are in, Asian leaders oppressing religious minorities and TAIPEI: A Canadian warship has sailed allies will think twice before making are unlikely to make any significant political opponents. through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, concrete promises to Washington. moves. Both Japan and South Korea He has also infuriated Beijing, the island’s defence ministry said on Pompeo heads for Japan, Mongolia will attempt a balancing act during which has been an important player in Saturday, a voyage that comes at a and South Korea on Sunday at a time Pompeo’s trip, Oh said, careful not to US-led attempts to persuade North time of heightened military tension when US ties with Beijing are at their stick their necks out too far to Korea to denuclearize, by increasing between China and Taiwan and worst in decades in the face of the upset China, while also expressing US engagement with Taiwan, which which could anger Beijing. China, coronavirus, which originated in support for the United States, in case Beijing considers a renegade province which claims democratic Taiwan as China and has now infected President Trump wins. that it has vowed to reunite with the its own territory, has stepped up its Donald Trump, his wife Melania and Pompeo may, however, be asked in mainland, by force if necessary. military activity around the island in millions of other Americans. private to dial down the tone. Rising tensions over Taiwan have the past few weeks, including sending An October 6 gathering of Pompeo “There are very, very powerful polit- led some analysts to speculate China fighter jets to cross the unofficial and his counterparts from Australia, ical leaders, business leaders who do might be tempted to take advantage of mid-way line buffer in the strait. Japan and India, dubbed the “Quad,” not trust China, who want the US to a contested US election to realize this Taiwan’s defence ministry said the will likely be the highlight of the trip, work with Japan and India and goal and have also generated sugges- Canadian corvette had sailed into the even though the top US diplomat Australia to counter China, but tions that Pompeo should consider an Taiwan Strait from the South China for East Asia, David Stilwell, conceded they want to keep making money off unannounced stop in Taipei to under- Sea and was heading in a northerly on Friday that the meeting would China and they don’t want such a line US support. direction after leaving the waterway. probably not produce a joint state- confrontational approach,” said Mike If he did, he would be the most sen- Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the ment of intent, despite shared worries Green, an Asia expert at Washington’s ior US official to visit the island since ship while it was in the strait, it said, about China. Center for Strategic and International Washington switched recognition to adding that the situation was normal. Trump, who tested positive for AP/RSS Studies. Beijing from Taipei in 1979. China The defence ministry did not elabo- Covid-19 on Thursday night, has US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State “I think with Pompeo behind the would see such a move as an enor- rate further. (AGENCIES) blamed China for unleashing the Department in Washington on September 2. scenes they’re going to say, basically mous provocation.

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Lampard warns Abraham after Chelsea crush Palace Liverpool forward Sadio Mane tests positive for coronavirus Englishman’s desire to take penalty instead of expert Jorginho prompts skipper Azpilicueta to intervene in their 4-0 win with two goals coming from penalties. LIVERPOOL: Liverpool forward Sadio AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE edge against defensive opponents. Mane has become the second player LONDON, OCT 3 “Not too many put four past from the English Premier League Crystal Palace. We just needed to up champions to test positive for Covid- Frank Lampard warned Tammy the urgency of our game. We needed to 19 this week. The club said in a state- Abraham to respect the “rules” after get Ben Chilwell into the game,” ment on Friday that the Senegalese the Chelsea striker argued with Cesar Lampard said. has displayed minor symptoms of the Azpilicueta over who should take a We couldn’t allow Palace’s back four virus but feels in good health overall. penalty in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of to say dealing with Chelsea’s front line On Tuesday, Liverpool’s new midfield Crystal Palace. was easy. “Ben Chilwell was fantastic signing Thiago Alcantara tested posi- With Chelsea leading 3-0 in the sec- today. His ability to be so high up the tive and was also reported to be dis- ond half, Abraham wanted to take the pitch, and that’s not a bad thing, and playing minor symptoms. “Liverpool Blues’ second penalty of the match his great quality on the ball.” Football Club are – and will continue instead of Jorginho, who is the team’s Lampard makes six changes to the to – follow all protocols relating to spot-kick expert and had already side that fell three goals down at West Covid-19 and Mane will self-isolate for scored one just minutes earlier. Brom last weekend. With the experi- the required period of time,” said the Abraham and Timo Werner dis- enced Azpilicueta and Jorginho back statement. cussed who should have it before in the starting line-up, Chelsea looked Chelsea captain Azpilicueta inter- more stable and mature. vened in a briefly heated debate. He The first half followed a familiar Neymar scores first goals of the took the ball out of Abraham’s hands pattern for Chelsea, who often domi- season as PSG triumph 6-1 and gave it to Jorginho, prompting a nated games without applying the PARIS: Brazilian forward Neymar dismissive wave from the striker. But knockout blow last season. But this scored his first two goals of the sea- Jorginho scored again to prove time they had the solution as the lively son as Paris St Germain demolished Azpilicueta’s point before Chelsea Chilwell finally broke the deadlock in hapless Angers 6-1 in a hopelessly boss Lampard made it clear to the 50th minute. one-sided Ligue 1 match on Friday. Abraham that he had been in the Palace defender Mamadou Sakho Alessandro Florenzi, Julian Draxler, wrong. made a hash of clearing Callum Idrissa Gana Gueye and Kylian “It’s been dealt with. I want leaders Hudson-Odoi’s cross and Azpilicueta Mbappe shared the other goals as and I don’t mind a little bit of conflict. hooked the ball to Abraham, whose PSG claimed a fourth successive win If Tammy wanted to take it because he determined header allowed Chilwell while Ismael Traore headed one back wants a goal or whatever it was then to fire home from six yards. for Angers. PSG, who lost their open- he can get put in his place a little bit,” Chilwell was proving impossible for ing two games of the season, jumped Lampard said. “I appreciate his eager- Palace to contain and he was catalyst to second in the table with 12 points ness because his performance for Chelsea’s second goal in the 66th from six matches, one behind leaders deserved a goal but the rules are you minute. Whipping a teasing cross into Rennes. don’t jump up ahead of the list at any AP/RSS the Palace area from wide on the left, moment. So, dealt with.” Ben Chilwell (left) marks his Premier League debut for Chelsea scoring the opening goal and creating chance for second against Crystal Palace. Chilwell found Zouma and the defend- Abraham’s outburst, fuelled by his er towered over Sakho to head home. Tottenham rope in Vinicius, desire to score his first league goal August. But the England left-back is efforts that broke down Palace’s stub- Chelsea would bounce back from their Chelsea were in control now and this season, couldn’t overshadow making up for lost time after deliver- born defence at Stamford Bridge. midweek League Cup defeat against Jorginho made it three in the 78th Sheffield United add Brewster Lampard’s pleasure as Chelsea got ing an influential performance in his Chilwell’s thumping finish put Tottenham and end a run of two suc- minute when he slotted in a penalty LONDON: Tottenham have signed strik- back on track. third game following a pair of League Chelsea ahead soon after half-time cessive league games without a win. after Abraham was fouled by Tyrick er Carlos Vinicius on loan from Hampered by a heel injury, Ben Cup outings. and he provided the assist for Kurt The defensive blunders that contribut- Mitchell. Sakho conceded another Benfica, the Premier League club said Chilwell had a delayed start to his first While Lampard has invested in a Zouma’s header as the Blues doubled ed to their 3-3 draw at West Bromwich penalty four minutes later and, after on Friday. The 25-year-old Brazilian, season with Chelsea following his £50 host of attacking talent since the end their lead. Albion were erased and, crucially, Abraham’s tantrum, Jorginho kept who was joint top goalscorer in million move from Leicester in of last season, here it was Chilwell Jorginho’s penalty double ensured Lampard’s men found their cutting his focus to make it four. Portugal’s Primeira Liga last season with 18 in 32 matches, will stay with the north London club for the full campaign. Spurs will pay a loan fee of three million euros with the option of buying Vinicius for 45 million Kohli powers Bangalore to victory Nadal races into French Open last 16 euros permanently at the end of the season. Vinicius’ move means AGENCIES that his side reached the target with five REUTERS Germany’s Alexander Zverev dismantled Tottenham finally have another for- ABU DHABI, OCT 3 balls to spare. PARIS, OCT 3 Marco Cecchinato 6-1 7-5 6-3 in under two hours to ward to ease the workload on Harry Opting to bat, the Royals lost their top-order move into last 16 where he will meet Italy’s rising Kane. Vinicius will replace Fernando Captain Virat Kohli roared back to form with an batsmen cheaply inside the powerplay overs but Rafael Nadal charged into the French Open last 16 star Jannik Sinner, who beat Argentine Federico Llorente, who left the club last year. unbeaten 72 and stitched a 99-run stand with recovered to some extent to post a decent total, on Friday and took another confident stride Coria 6-3 7-5 7-5. Russian Andrey Rublev also Another striker on the move was Devdutt Padikkal (63) to power Royal Challengers thanks to Mahipal Lomror’s knock of 47. towards equalling Roger Federer’s record of 20 advanced with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over South African Rhian Brewster joining Sheffield Bangalore to a comfortable eight-wicket win Royals skipper Steve Smith (5) fell cheaply for major titles. Kevin Anderson on Saturday, while German qual- United from Liverpool. Brewster, who over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier the second consecutive time with Isuru Udana The 12-time Roland Garros champion dis- ifier Daniel Altmaier bundled out Italian seventh spent the second half of last season League on Saturday. taking his wicket in the third over. He was fol- patched Italian world number 74 Stefano Travaglia seed Matteo Berrettini 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4. on loan at Swansea, agreed to a five- This was after wrist spinner Yuzvendra lowed in the hut by Englishman Jos Buttler (22) 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 in just 95 minutes, notching his 96th In women’s actions, American fourth seed Sofia year deal after the Blades paid a club Chahal snared three wickets in an impressive who failed to come up with a big score yet again. victory at the tournament. Nadal next faces Kenin stormed into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-0 record fee exceeding 23 million bowling show that helped them restrict Sanju Samson (4), who had two sensational 213th-ranked American qualifier Sebastian Korda demolition of Romanian qualifier Irina Bara on pounds. As part of the deal, Liverpool Rajasthan to 154-6. Kohli’s knock came off 53 innings of 74 and 85 in the first two matches, for a quarter-final spot who beat Pedro Martinez Saturday. The Australian Open champion lost the negotiated a 15% sell-on clause and a balls with seven fours and two sixes. It was was dismissed in the fifth over with Chahal tak- in straight sets to become the first man outside first two games before turning on the power and buy-back option that will be active for Bangalore’s third win in four matches. ing a low catch in his follow-through. the top 200 to make the last 16 in Paris since winning the remaining 12 to reach the last 16 at the next three seasons. Brewster’s Padikkal yet again produced an impressive The Royals were 31/3 and they reached 70/3 at France’s Arnaud di Pasquale in 2002. Roland Garros for the second time. Earlier, last appearance for Liverpool was in innings before he was dismissed by Jofra Archer halfway mark with Robin Uthappa (17) and Hugo Gaston, the lone Frenchman left in the Caroline Garcia dumped out 16th seed Elise the Community Shield against in the 16th over, after hitting six fours and one Lomror stitching a 39-run stand for the fourth draw, became the second such lowly-ranked man Mertens 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 to set up fourth round tie with Arsenal at the end of August, with six. The young Bangalore opener allowed his wicket. in the fourth round when the world number 239 Elina Svitolina, who beat Russia’s Ekaterina his missed penalty in the shootout captain to get in and settle down before Rahul Tewatia (24 not out), looking for yet shocked 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, Alexandrova 6-4, 7-5. giving the London club the victory. Kohli produced some of his trademark shots another explosive innings after the one against 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in a rain-interrupted tie. Gaston, 20, Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens showed no ill-effects Meanwhile, Leicester signed France later on to accelerate. Bangalore needed 31 runs Kings XI Punjab, hit two sixes in the last over next faces Austrian third seed Dominic Thiem from her brutal French Open campaign as she Under-21 defender Wesley Fofana after Padikkal’s dismissal and another in-form after enduring a beamer from Navdeep Saini on beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 earlier in eased into the last 16 with a routine 6-2 6-2 win from Saint-Etienne. (AGENCIES) batman AB de Villiers (12 not out) ensured his chest. the day. over Katerina Siniakova. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Watch for frustration with your bank account right Today is about taking the time you need to do some- You might think you’ve got all your ducks lined This is the perfect time for you to embrace the art of now. You can get a handle on the stress your money thing. Instead of just trying something for half an up in a neat row, but today something could planning! Okay, it’s not always the most exciting issues are causing, but only if you keep cool. Now is hour, you need to make more of a commitment. This come along and toss a wrench in the works. Luckily, activity, but deep down inside you have the capacity not the time to react with dramatic and panicky applies to growing relationships, improving your you’re in an excellent position to adapt and get to enjoy it and excel at it. Moving forward too quickly changes. career options, and just entertaining yourself. past it. in one area today is not the wisest thing to do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t Simple pleasures hold the greatest satisfaction for You are entering a time of great organisational skill, The latest revelation from a friend was dramatic, for mean that you can’t get along with them. You can you today, so if possible, keep close to home and enjoy and you’re about to take multitasking to a whole new sure, but was it legitimate? It’s time to do a little even laugh together! If you always opted out of being some quiet time. One idea might be to cook a great level! While you’re going to have a very productive sleuthing and dig deeper to find out what the real deal friends with people who think about life differently meal. Cooking is fun and it’s likely to get your crea- day, you will also enjoy a greater amount of self-sat- is. It’s not that you’re doubting them. It’s just that from you, you’d miss out. tive juices flowing. isfaction. you’re doubting their story. There is a difference.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Get creative in how you handle mundane tasks today Past mistakes or missteps are all water under the Try this tactic on a person you want to get closer to: Are your penny-pinching ways preventing you from and you will get a lot done. Even if you simply play bridge. You can’t think of them when you’re think- Be brave and reveal an embarrassing story from having a fulfilling social life? It’s time to loosen up the some of your favourite music while washing the dish- ing about what to do next. So if you’re embarking on your past! While it might make you feel a little weird purse strings just a little bit. Money has no value es, the added stimulation will keep you smiling and a new project, you have to have an open mind and a to bare your soul to them, it will also show this per- unless you spend it, so shake loose some of your extra boost your “can do” attitude skyward. strong attitude that anything is possible. son that you trust them. change and treat yourself to a small pleasure today. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SUNDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2020 | 08 BLACKBOARD (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Psychologists get sad too Sarita SALIM MAHARJAN We are all humans, imperfect beings with crazy emotions, and no person has it all together all the time. Young and innocent Sarita Moves dreamily with nothing to prove, Two butterflies lead her through the dance And she smiles with every new step.

Angels in the early morning Fear to wake her up from her sleep, For her reality was not as sweet as her dreams It was a place where she had to deal with pain so extreme.

To begin with There is no breakfast waiting for her A good dinner her mama promises But Sarita knows there is little truth to it.

With her baba long gone to paradise And her mama carrying loads with little payroll, Sarita remains alone for hours on end With her little toy ‘guddu’, giving her some console.

Sarita remains in her tiny hut alone Waiting for her mom, and some food to eat, She dreams of the tasty meal she once ate And she and guddu sit together in their long wait.

SHUTTERSTOCK Maharjan is an undergraduate student at Kathmandu University, PRAKRITI POUREL ing, as though I am not allowed to feel sad time to do so, for I also come up with per- Kathmandu. or anxious. After all, I’m also a human plexing thoughts just like everyone else. eing a student of psychology, being who makes mistakes just like every- But whoever we are and whatever we do, the most common thing I’ve one else and is only trying to learn from we all lose, suffer and struggle at some been asked is this: “Can you them. I also have the same feelings like point in the journey of life. We all read my mind?” everyone else and try to make sense of rejoice, smile, enjoy and celebrate. If a psy- The answer is ‘No’, albeit I them. I have my good days and bad days. At chologist ever tries to persuade you that s/ wish I could say ‘Yes.’ times, I don’t feel like talking. I laugh, I cry, he has never experienced any sort of mis- BWhile it is true that the only reason I had I feel joy and I feel pain. happening in his/her life, chances are he chosen this subject back then was because I People have a misconception that psy- would be lying because we all go through thought one day I would be able to read chologists are mentally stable at all times. hard times. people’s mind, I cannot read minds. Then, I But that is not necessarily true. No person We are human beings, and by nature, are was a naive teenager who was not aware of has it all together all the time. Being in the imperfect, but that is what makes us who how human psychology works. field of psychology doesn’t give me a magic we are, and psychologists are no exception. Today, as a psychology student, although formula of perfection. It may be true that After all, toppers fail at some things too, I can’t read minds, I can, however, under- the subject-related trainings and books pro- doctors do get sick and psychologists do get stand human behavior better than most vide me guidelines in the course of dealing sad. Being human is to experience both people and comprehend why people behave with a particular situation. Having said happiness and sadness regardless of what in a particular way. And even this is a great that, I feel and react in my own way and I we intend to do. Since no one is perfect in thing indeed. need to take my time in the course of reach- an imperfect world, every one of us needs However, because I am a psychology stu- ing a conclusion that suits the need of a each other. We are not machines. We all dent and I understand human emotions to particular situation. make mistakes. We cannot do everything an extent, people expect me to always From what I have learned as a psycholo- on our own. We need each other’s help, behave ‘correctly’. People always expect me gy student, I remember to take deep breaths guidance, assistance and support. We need to gain control of myself all the time. For to calm down and try to accept things as grace. Psychologists need compassion too. instance, people expect me to not scream in they are whenever I find myself in a messy And that is okay. the midst of chaos, to not get frustrated situation. Every time I encounter setbacks, when nothing goes right and to communi- I acknowledge that I’m allowed to feel bad Pourel is a Masters in Psychology student at

cate when there is no sense of understand- and get worried. And I give myself enough Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. SHUTTERSTOCK FICTION PARK The miracle of untouchable milk The news of the blacksmith’s wife breastfeeding the Brahmin’s son spread across the village like wildfire.

CHANDRA KUMAR PHUYAL lady or to face exile from the village con- tinued to mount on Ram Prasad intolera- h, my God! What on bly. Yet, he did not lose his faith and tem- earth are you per. Amid many threats, he sought to find doing? How dare the reasons behind caste-based discrimi- you feed your nation in society. “The names that once untouchable breast used to entitle people to their assigned to my baby? What jobs to ensure the smooth functioning of “Oif the neighbours had noticed? You would society have now developed as castes, have gotten us banished!’’ said Sita Devi, rooting the culture of sheer discrimina- Brahmin Ram Prasad’s wife, when she tion among the people unscientifically. caught Kamini feeding her breast to her And that groundless culture has simply baby. been passing on from generations to gen- “Pardon me, Panditni Bajyai. The baby erations so far. The unjust discrimina- was continuously crying of hunger in tions among the people based on man’s your absence while I was breastfeeding created misconceptions of touchability my baby. As a mother I couldn’t bear the and untouchability for their selfish infant’s bitter weeping so I offered one motive has been agonising a considerably breast to him while my baby was being big number of people in our society. This fed with the other. See, he is happy now! is utterly wrong practice. This leads the Believe me, it doesn’t harm him,’’ said human being to nowhere but a path des- Kamini, the wife of the village black- tined to a malicious life. Such a practice smith, with her head bowed and voice must immediately be rooted out,’’ said stammering in anxiety. Ram Prasad, in conclusion of his The Brahmin family, who lived next to research. the blacksmith’s house, was extremely The struggle of Ram Prasad to over- hectic during farming season. The par- come these deep-rooted discriminations ents of the baby would go to their farm, continued. However, Rakesh grew up usually leaving the baby with the black- smart, dedicated and hard-working. His smith’s wife, who would stay at home performance at school was outstanding. taking care of her own newly born baby. There was no history of Rakesh ever The kind and always smiling Kamini was standing second in life. Finally, he topped a loving mother. The baby of the all the students with his performance at Brahmin’s parents would feel more cared, his studies in Nepal Engineering College satisfied and delighted to be with Kamini in his bachelors and went to the USSR for than with its relatives. Sita Devi too his further studies. He did really well would prefer to leave her baby with even at the university in the USSR. Then, Kamini while going to do farm work and after accomplishing his studies in the used to return only in the evening after USSR, he came back home and began to working hard the entire day. serve the nation as a top international Sita Devi’s baby, who was later named engineering consultant. His success was Rakesh, also felt more comfortable with exemplary to society. the lady than others in the village. Thus Conversely, his son’s success gave Ram Sita Devi allowed Kamini to feed her Prasad the fuel to further his years’ drive child. She allowed it also because her hus- of eradicating conservative thought in band too did not hold onto such discrimi- society on barbaric discriminations and natory notions and always encouraged untouchability. Gradually, people began her not to follow anything blindfoldedly. to understand that their belief in caste- But the news about Kamini breastfeed- based discrimination had no scientific ing the Brahmin’s son spread from basis. His son Rakesh stood as a strong woman to woman and man to man across example in his father’s drive of trans- the village like wildfire. The event was forming society and taking it into a pro- scandalous: a pandit’s son being fed the SHUTTERSTOCK gressive path. milk of a blacksmith’s wife was deeply now chosen the path of ruin and degrada- who was totally unaware of what was protest of the people against that inci- Frequently Rakesh visited his village shocking to the society. tion? We cannot allow him to perform happening around, enjoyed both feeds: dence in the village hurt Ram Prasad to join his father’s campaign. Their fami- ‘’How is the blacksmith’s wife, who is religious functions. His very presence the breastfeeding of his mother during deep inside, instead of running away ly turned out to be very happy and suc- considered to be untouchable from time will now defile our pure residence,’’ morning and evening and of Kamini dur- from the crisis, he began to investigate to cessful. Eventually, Rakesh married immemorial, and thus strictly denied to angry villagers united against the ing daytime, both had no difference in find out if there is a scientific reason Kamini’s daughter. All was well between enter even the temples, public places and Brahmin’s family. Sensing the negativity, taste. He was a sound and healthy child. behind the “untouchability”. the two families, and in their village. No the houses of upper caste people, be the family worried about the mounting As a result, the bond of the blacksmith’s Born in a family where caste system one was untouchable anymore. allowed to breastfeed the son of our own social stigma. family with that of Brahmin deepened was deeply rooted and practised, the pres- pandit deliberately? Why has our pandit On the other hand, innocent Rakesh, stronger day by day. Even though the mad sure either to abandon the bond with that Phuyal is a teacher and a freelance writer.

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