NEW SPOTLIGHT | Aug 07. 2020 | 1 NEW SPOTLIGHT | Aug 07. 2020 | 2 NEW SPOTLIGHTFORTNIGHTLY Notes From The Editor Vol.:Vol.: 13,14, No.-11,No.-02, January-August-07, 24 ,2020 2020 (Shrawan(Magh. 10.2076) 23. 2077) Price: Price NRs. NRs.100 100 Requesting Indian government to lift the restriction Editor and Publisher put on palm oil export, Nepal government has shown its Keshab Poudel weaknessWith to traders growing who disputeshave been in thriving the ruling and makingparty, Nepal’sprofits through politics the is headingmisuse of towardstrade agreement’s another loopholes.phase of Contributor instabilityInstead of restrictingand it will this likely kind affect of short Nepal’s term business,develop- Sabine Pretsch this request will boost the morale of traders and business ment process and economic development. 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Ltd., Dhapasi, Kathmandu Tel. : 977-1-4363624 Keshab Poudel Editor NEWNEW SPOTLIGHT | AugJan. 07. 24. 2020 2020 | 1 1 CONTENT PM OLI Survival Fight 3 NEWSNOTES 4 BUSINESS BRIEF 6 OPINION Bishnu Adhikari and Parshuram Upadhyaya 8 NEPALI CONGRESS COVERSTORY: CHANDRA PRASAD DHAKAL : Reflections Of A Victor 23 Unjust Act 12 ARITICLE Hemang Dixit 14 KULMAN GHISING Rush For Work 15 IGP SHAILESH THAPA Top To Top 18 VIEWPOINT François-Xavier Léger 19 MELAMCHI TUNNEL NEA: Given The Go-Ahead 16 Strength Test 28 VERDICT ON POLYMER NOTES Witch Hunting Ends 20 THE WORLD BANK Growth At 2.1 Percent 32 WORLD BANK Supporting Road Sector 33 FLOOD Crying Of Children 34 MONETARY POLICY 2020: Realistic Approach 30 FORUM Dr. Prabin Manandhar 36 NEW SPOTLIGHT | Aug 07. 2020 | 2 PM OLI Survival Fight With unity and assertion, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s rivals are preparing to pull down the government By A CORRESPONDENT s Italian philosopher Nicolo Given the growing disputes in the par- His off the cuff and undiplo- Machivelli, in his book The ty, PM Oli may push her to accept his matic remarks against India have also APrince, says in politics there decision to call fresh polls. made him popular among the party’s are no perfectly safe courses, prudence Despite portraying the meet- cadres who were groomed with an- consists in choosing the least danger- ing as an off-the-record meeting, Pres- ti-Indian schooling. For the sake of ous one. He said that tricks may win ident Bhandari recently met with 25 remaining in power, PM Oli has issued the war but they don’t win glory. editors of different newspapers and all kinds of statements and tactics. Given the current political had a political message to give. Talk- Even recently, he proposed to power struggle in the ruling Nepal ing with the guards of off the record, hold the unity convention of the party Communist Party (NCP), Prime Min- president Bhandari expressed her dis- in November and tried to lure co-chair ister K.P. Sharma Oli’s choice is nar- pleasure over the recent media cover- Prachanda in his fold. Given PM Oli’s rowing down and only way for him age on her meeting with Prime Minis- behavior, Prachanda did budge to him. to escape from the crisis is to choose ter and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. the least dangerous one or to retain the glory. As the rift in the ruling NCP has further intensified, Prime Minister Oli and his rivals led by co-chair Push- pa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalnath Khanal, among others, are preparing a strategy for final show down. At a time when PM Oli is in- sisting to hold the convention before taking any major decision including his resignation, Prachanda, Nepal, Khanal and Gautam had been press- ing on him to resign either from party chair or prime minister. Prachanda-led group is de- manding PM Oli should give up one post of either prime minister or party PM Oli, who is gradually chair as a basis to end the party’s cur- For the last four months, it isolated in the party, has also tried to rent dispute. However, prime minister was a hay day in politics for Prime forge alliance with the leader of main Oli has opposed it. Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s survival Unlike in the past, there is in power. He was able to preempt his opposition Sher Bhadur Deuba. In no other national issue before PM Oli rivals’ move one after another thanks case of major differences within the now. His choice is narrowing. With to Kalapani, COVID-19 and flood and party, PM Oli has sought help of NC minority in parliamentary committee landslides. Deuba to forge a new coalition. and standing committee, PM Oli’s Taking a stand on publication If one does not visualize the only political weapon is to go to presi- and incorporation of new map through unavoidable scenario before him or dent and seek fresh poll in November. two thirds majority in the parliament, her, he or she will be doomed to lose Although President Bidya PM Oli was able to press his oppo- the political power. As his opponents Bhandari has soft corners towards PM nents in the party and outside to stand are solidly united, PM Oli has very Oli, she has constitutional limitations. behind him. limited options. NEW SPOTLIGHT | Aug 07. 2020 | 3 NEWSNOTES KOICA And MoHP Sign Agreement To Empower Rural of the SSDP is to produce the needed human resources to elevate Community the country’s status from a least developed country by 2022 and to KOICA and Health Ministry reach the goal of achieving the status of the level of the middle-in- signs Record of Discussion (RoD) to Em- come country by 2030. power Rural Communities in Nepal through Development of Education sector in Nepal is one of an Integrated Approach to Health and In- JICA’s top priorities and it assures to continue its support to this come Growth sector for effective implementation and output. Considering the Ministry of Health and Popula- current situation of COVID-19 and its possible impacts to edu- tion (MoHP) on behalf of The Government cation sector, the Government of Nepal may explore necessary of Nepal and the Korea International Co- flexibility and develop a common understanding with all develop- operation Agency (KOICA) on behalf of ment partners to best utilize the available resources in addressing The Government of the Republic of Korea the emerging needs of the school education. signed the Record of Discussion (RoD) of the project “Empower Rural Communities in Nepal through an Responsibility Of Nepal Army Spokesperson Handed Over Integrated Approach to Health and Income Growth” on 24th July, Brigadier General Bigyan Dev Pandey handed over the 2020 at MoHP. responsibility of Directorate of Public Relations and NA Spokes The RoD was signed by Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, Chief person to Brig General Santosh Ballav Poudel amid a function at of Health Coordination Division of MoHP and Sunghoon Ko, Nepal Army Headquarter. General Pandey served as the Director Country Director of KOICA in Nepal. Korean Government of DPR and NA Spokesperson for through KOICA will spend US$ 4.7 million for this project for 16 months.