Oli Skipping Meeting to Avoid Criticism Is Disgraceful, Leaders
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WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 123 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.2 C 13.0 C Saturday, June 27, 2020 | 13-03-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom Oli skipping meeting to avoid criticism is disgraceful, leaders say Oli knows that the Standing Committee is preparing to ask him to choose between the prime ministership and the party chair. TIKA R PRADHAN KATHMANDU, JUNE 26 A looming crisis appears close to coming to a head in the ruling Nepal Communist Party with Standing Committee members preparing to demand the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over his gov- ernment’s poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sensing which way the wind is blowing, Oli skipped Friday’s Standing Committee meet- ing, although the meeting only discussed the border dispute with India. Standing Committee members still faulted POST FILE PHOTO the Oli administration for failing to lay the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli groundwork for diplomatic talks with India over the border dispute and allowing Nepal- Oli knows that the deck is stacked against India ties to deteriorate to the lowest levels in him at the 44-member Standing Committee. recent history. At most, he commands the loyalty of hardly Oli has avoided major discussions during 15 members and that is nowhere near enough the previous Standing Committee meeting to repel a proposal calling for his resignation. held in December and many Central On Wednesday, the first day of the meeting, Committee meetings whenever he feels that Oli and Dahal had both accused the other of he is going to be criticised by his own party failing the party and the government, with members. the latter hinting that Oli should resign as The ongoing Standing Committee meeting, either prime minister or party chair. RSS which was supposed to be held on May 7, was Now, other party leaders are preparing to A truck carrying goods on its way to Upper Dolpa from Mustang district. People living in the mountain region are better served due to the new road connection. postponed time and again by Oli. follow suit, said one Standing Committee On Friday, many leaders asked Pushpa member. “Many leaders are preparing to Kamal Dahal, the other party chair, about Oli’s seek Oli’s resignation as a majority of the whereabouts but Dahal too was unaware. party feels that Oli cannot be trusted to run General Secretary Bishnu Poudel then the government anymore,” said Matrika informed the meeting that the prime minister Yadav, a Standing Committee member who is India refuses talks and there is no boundary was busy with his work and would join the close to Dahal. meeting later. He never showed up. During Wednesday’s meeting, Dahal had “Oli has either ignored the significance of said that the party wouldn’t remain if the the meeting, which is being held after such a status quo continued. dispute with China, foreign minister says long time, or he has other reasons,” said The Dahal faction, which now includes sen- Gokarna Bista, a Standing Committee mem- ior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath ber who is close to Nepal. “A chairman avoid- Khanal, Bamdev Gautam and Narayan Kaji ing his own party’s meeting is disgraceful. He Shrestha, is planning to enforce the ‘one lead- Pradeep Gyawali’s clarifications on Friday come after a number of media reports stating India’s should have listened to his party leaders.” er, one responsibility’ doctrine, asking Oli to Among the 18 leaders who spoke on Friday, choose between the party chair or the prime offer for talks and boundary disputes with China. many, including Asta Laxmi Shakya, Bhim ministership. Rawal and Oli’s own man Raghubir Mahaseth, “The prime minister can do anything to ANIL GIRI India offering to sit for talks, as reported in did not reply. In early May, after India opened a questioned the prime minister’s intent in save his position and he has already told his KATHMANDU, JUNE 26 some Indian media outlets, it had refused to sit link road via Lipulekh, Nepal again asked for ignoring the crucial meeting. people to remain prepared for a split,” said to currently hold any dialogue with Nepal to talks, with India responding that talks would Leaders were irate over the continuous Yadav. “But we are in favour of keeping the Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has counter- resolve the boundary dispute despite repeated only be possible once the Covid-19 pandemic ‘disgrace’ to the party meetings with Shakya party intact.” acted two assertions regarding boundary dis- requests from Nepal. Contrary to some reports was over. Nepal eventually published a new saying that the meeting was held at Baluwatar, Even before the meeting began, Oli had putes that have been making the rounds of both in the Nepali and Indian media, Gyawali clari- political map, incorporating all territories dis- the prime minister’s residence, just because been trying to woo leaders from the Dahal Nepali and Indian media--that India offered to fied that there were no boundary disputes with puted with India. of Oli and that if he refuses to attend, the faction in order to prevent a damaging pro- sit for talks but was rebuffed by Nepal, and that China and if any such disputes arose, they “We had offered talks in November, December, meeting must be held at the party headquar- posal at the Standing Committee. China has encroached upon more Nepali terri- would be resolved through talks. January and May but India rejected them, say- ters in Dhumbarahi. >> Continued on page 4 tory than India. Two Standing Committee members told the ing that they are occupied with Covid and once Gyawali, speaking at the ongoing Standing Post that some party leaders criticised the KP both nations will overcome the pandemic, for- Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Sharma Oli government on Friday for not doing mal talks can be initiated,” Gyawali said at the Communist Party (NCP), said that contrary to adequate homework to hold talks with India, meeting, according to party leaders. failing to cultivate alternative lines of commu- Acharya, however, said that the government nication with New Delhi, and also failing to needed to push its claims internationally, by propagate Nepal’s claim to its lands on national publishing in both Nepali and English so that and international platforms. Nepal’s claims are recognised by experts, opin- “There is national unity on territorial integ- ion makers, leaders, diplomats and the general rity and publication of the map but we sincere- public. The government must also pursue other ly lack homework for talks with India,” Bhim avenues for dialogue, he said. Acharya, a Standing Committee member, said. “Though the government has claimed that it “The government cannot sit idly after calling is ready to sit in talks, our efforts are not ade- for talks with India.” quate,” said Acharya. “Let’s reach out to other Ever since India released a new political map sections of Indian society like political party in November that included Kalapani within its leaders, experts, diplomats and public intellec- territory, Nepal has been pushing for talks, dis- tuals to put pressure on New Delhi.” patching at least three diplomatic notes. India >> Continued on page 4 Socially isolated and in financial despair, LGBTIQ individuals are taking their own lives The lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has taken away livelihoods and forced queer individuals back in with prejudiced families, leading to social isolation and failing mental health. ELISHA SHRESTHA isolated in a room without sup- KATHMANDU, JUNE 26 port. I think all these circumstanc- es led her to take her own life,” On Sunday evening, Pinky Gurung said Gurung. received a text from her friend Various studies have shown that Narayani, who said she was the LGBTIQ community is at high- depressed. Gurung immediately er risk of depression, anxiety, went to Narayani’s rented apart- PTSD and suicide. These mental ment in Sorakhutte where the two health problems are often trig- had a heartfelt conversation. gered by a lack of family support, Gurung thought that Narayani, a discrimination and prejudice. The transwoman, was feeling much Covid-19 and ensuing lockdown better. But the next day, when she only made things worse—exacer- was unable to reach Narayani on bating social isolation and eco- her mobile phone despite calling nomic despair. multiple times, Gurung sensed According to the Blue Diamond that something was wrong. Society, four queer individuals The body of 50-year-old have committed suicide during the Narayani was discovered by the lockdown, while as many as 20 police early Monday morning. Her people have reached out to Gurung death was ruled as suicide. POST FILE PHOTO personally via social media asking “Six months ago, Narayani had A participant of the Pride Parade last year. Studies have shown that the LGBTIQ for help with their anxiety and lost her daughter to suicide. Just community is at higher risk of depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicide. depression. when she was trying her best to There have also been reports of cope with the grief, the lockdown According to Gurung, Narayani, ures put in place in response to the LGBTIQ individuals experiencing took a toll on her mental and a sex worker, had had no work Covid-19 pandemic. She had decid- deteriorating mental health after financial health,” said Gurung, since the beginning of the lock- ed against returning to her home being forced to isolate alongside who is president of the Blue down on March 24. She had told in Dang because she was still clos- family members who don’t accept Diamond Society, the country’s Gurung that she was experiencing eted and feared being stigmatised.