WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 17 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , , Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 31.3 C -0.1 C Sunday, March 07, 2021 | 23-11-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla House of confrontation As Parliament session begins, Oli will try to prove his legitimacy while the Dahal- faction, though still confused, prepares to nix his plan.

BINOD GHIMIRE & ANIL GIRI it has split politically, legally continues to KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 remain one, as the Election Commission has not given a verdict on the party legit- When the meeting of the House of imacy dispute. Representatives commences on Sunday, The Janata Samajbadi Party wants con- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his crete assurances also, if it were to sup- faction of the port Dahal and Nepal, regarding its con- will try their best to make it look like cerns—ranging from constitutional business as usual. amendments to the release of its lawmak- The government’s priority, according er Resham Chaudhary from jail. to sources, will be presenting the ordi- The Congress party, which has held a nances in a semblance of providing busi- series of internal meetings as well as ness to the House and letting the House talks with leaders from across the politi- function as if everything is normal, cal spectrum, including Oli, Dahal and unless the faction led by Pushpa Kamal Nepal, has said that it would make a deci- Dahal and takes a sion only after the Nepal Communist drastic step. Party sees a formal split. Though the Dahal-Nepal faction And even if it were to support the wants to unseat Oli, it has yet to decide Dahal-Nepal faction, will it be just to give whether to file a no-confidence motion a leg up to Dahal? against him. Multiple Congress leaders have told the As per the preliminary business sched- Post over the past few days that the party ule published by the Parliament would be interested in leading the govern- Secretariat on Saturday, the government ment, rather than just backing one side— will present as many as eight ordinances, Oli or the Dahal-Nepal-led faction. In that including the one related to the amend- case, if the Dahal-Nepal faction files a ment to the Constitutional Council no-confidence motion against Oli with (Functions, Duties and Procedures) Act- POST FILE PHOTO the Congress party’s support, it should 2010 issued on December 15. With the Nepal Communist Party legitimacy row unresolved, the House session is headed for a confrontation, observers say. name Congress President Sher Bahadur Bishal Bhattarai, who was appointed Deuba as the next prime minister. the chief whip of the Nepal Communist Representatives was endorsed by Congress party, which has 63 members also because the Supreme Court over- Oli and Deuba too have been in touch Party by Oli on February 26 in place of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. (two suspended) in the House, its no-con- turned his decision to dissolve the for quite a while, but what understanding Dev Gurung, told the Post that the govern- The Dahal-Nepal faction is unlikely to fidence motion will fall flat. In such a House,” said Shrestha. they have been discussing is not clear yet. ment’s priority will be getting the ordi- revive the same no-confidence motion, in case, Oli will get a lease of life until “Second, he has lost the majority in the One possibility is that Oli is seeking nances through Parliament. which it had proposed Dahal as the next March next year, as constitutional provi- party as well. A majority of parliamentar- Congress party’s support in case he seeks “All the ordinances will be presented prime minister. sions don’t allow another no-confidence ians are against him. If he does not a vote of confidence. But leaders have before the House on the very first day,” Officials at the Parliament Secretariat motion for one year. resign, then in consultation with the stopped short of saying what that deal said Bhattarai. “Getting them endorsed is said they have not heard anything about a Narayan Kaji Shrestha, spokesperson Nepali Congress and the Janata entails. A likely scenario is that Oli sur- the government’s top priority.” no-confidence motion. for the Nepal Communist Party (Dahal- Samajbadi Party, a no-confidence motion vives with Congress support and in The House meeting is commencing on “There is no information regarding Nepal faction), told the Post that they will be registered.” return, he lets Deuba lead the govern- Sunday after the Supreme Court on any no-confidence motion from any side,” have yet to decide on tabling a no-confi- If the Dahal-Nepal faction indeed has ment—for at least a year until the elec- February 23 overturned Oli’s December Gopal Nath Yogi, a secretary for the dence motion against Oli, as they are still 115 lawmakers on its side, as claimed by tions in 2022. 20 decision to dissolve the House. Oli, House of Representatives, told the Post. in discussions with the Nepali Congress Shrestha, the Janata Samajbadi Party’s Despite Deuba’s public statements that however, has refused to resign on moral The Nepali Congress’ silence has put and Janta Samajbadi Party. support will be sufficient to remove Oli. he is in no hurry to become prime minis- grounds and has decided to face the the Dahal-Nepal faction in a fix. It is hesi- The Janata Samajabadi Party has 34 In the 275-member House of ter, he has made it sufficiently clear that House. He has even challenged his oppo- tant to file a no-confidence motion against members (two suspended) in Parliament. Representatives, the magic number is 138. he is not averse to the idea. nents to remove him if they can. Oli because it lacks the numbers to get it “Our first and foremost demand is Oli The Janata Samajbadi Party, however, Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is like- The Dahal-Nepal faction had registered through Parliament. should resign. He has plunged into the has already made it clear that for it to ly to pass a verdict soon on a case filed by a no-confidence motion against Oli on The faction has been claiming that it minority inside the party since as many support Dahal-Nepal faction, it first needs Rishiram Kattel, who claims that Nepal December 20, hours after the government has around 87 to 90 lawmakers on its side. as 115 lawmakers are against him. Oli to say whether it is a “formal party”. Communist Party name belongs to him. recommendation to dissolve the House of Even then, without the support of the cannot remain prime minister morally The Nepal Communist Party, although >> Continued on page 2

POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR Bikram Maharjan breaks blocks of ice during the 15th Budokaido full contact competition at Basantapur, Kathmandu on Saturday. Short of doses, government decides to vaccinate only those above 65 from today The Health Ministry has 1.5 million shots, WHO is delivering 348,000 on Sunday and the of a million doses from Serum Institute of is expected within a week.

ARJUN POUDEL “Yes, neither the World Health KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 Organization’s COVAX facility could deliver us the doses it had committed The plan was to inoculate 3.7 million earlier, nor could we buy sufficient Nepalis above the age of 55 from doses on our own,” said an official Sunday as part of the second phase of at the Health Ministry, asking not to a nation-wide immunisation cam- be named. paign against Covid-19. Of the 1.5 million vaccine doses, But now with only 1.5 million doses about 500,000 are what remain from of vaccine in hand, the government the one million doses that India pro- has decided to inoculate only those vided in January in grant and another above 65, who number 1.6 million. million is what the Serum Institute of India has delivered of the two million Nepal bought last month. Authorities expect the remain- ing million doses, bought at $4 per dose, to arrive within a week. Nepal on Sunday will also get 348,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine from the World Health Organization’s COVAX pro- gramme although in early February, it had forecasted to provide 2,256,000 vaccine doses REUTERS by the end of the month. The second phase of vaccination begins on >> Continued on page 2 Sunday with Covishield shots available.

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Karnali Corridor bringing prosperity in the region Economic activities have increased in various districts of with the construction of the corridor.

TULARAM PANDEY IN KALIKOT districts of Karnali Province. Anga & RAJ BAHADUR SHAHI IN MUGU Bahadur Shahi of Soru Rural MARCH 6 Municipality-4 in Mugu district has not gone to India for the past three The daily life of 78-year-old Aja years, as he’s been working for the Pharsal of Shantighat in Kalikot Ward road construction project. No. 6 has changed. Until five years Birkha Bahadur Shahi of ago, Pharsal had to walk around three Photugaun in the same rural munici- hours to reach the nearest market- pality said he could earn around Rs place to sell his vegetables. Now, with 500,000 a year by working in the corri- the construction of the Karnali dor project. Not only Anga Bahadur Corridor, his vegetables reach the and Birkha Bahadur but around 300 market via vehicles. people of Sorukot have gotten employ- The number of professional farm- ment opportunities in their village ers in the remote areas of Karnali has through the project. The road project also increased with easy road access. has also made it easy for local farmers The corridor has not only increased to get their products to the market and professional farming in the rural for daily essentials to be brought to areas but also opened doors for devel- the villages. opment and prosperity in the region. “The living standards of the people “With the opening of road tracks, have improved due to increased eco- POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI people don’t need to carry daily essen- nomic activities. The prices of goods A child selling bottled water waits for customers as two women pass by at Pashupati, Kathmandu on Saturday. tials like oil, salt, rice grains and in the local markets have also clothes on their backs anymore,” said decreased due to the road connectivi- Pharsal. “I make more money from ty,” said Dhanbir Bogati of Kalikot. my vegetable farming now since I can The price of land connected with easily access marketplaces.” the Karnali Corridor has skyrocketed. Parilal Neupane, a resident of “Local residents started building Neupanebada in Ward No. 1 of , houses and huts near the corridor and Badi people’s sit-in continues for two weeks has been selling cardamoms worth Rs ran hotels and other shops,” said 300,000 annually. Kamal Shahi of Kalikot. According to “I make good money from selling him, the price of land abutting the Around 400 people of the Badi community have come to Surkhet for the protest, demanding land plots. cardamoms in the local market,” said corridor and rent of houses in the Neupane. road area have increased by five folds KALENDRA SEJUWAL A total of 27 people have started within the past couple of years. SURKHET, MARCH 6 vegetable farming in , Ward The barren land which was left No. 9 of Palata after the road access. unused until a few years ago has For the past two weeks, people from Raj Bahadur Bam, acting chief admin- turned into a market place because of the Badi community have been stag- istrative officer of the rural munici- the corridor construction. Local mar- ing a sit-in in front of the Office of pality, said, “The road access has kets have been set up in Dhulachaur Chief Minister and Council of increased economic activities in the of Bajura and Balu, Kuna and Ministers in demand- village. The prices of daily essentials Tirthasain of Humla. ing land plots for housing and have also become cheaper. After the “People are now migrating to the cultivation purposes. But the authori- road access, the commute has been roadside from the villages to start ties concerned have paid no heed to shortened to two hours from one businesses,” said Surjit Malla of their demands. whole day.” Dhainakot. Around 400 people of the Badi com- The Jitegada-Bajura road along the The recent opening of a 122km road munity from Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot stretch of Karnali Corridor track from Khulalu to Balukuna in Kalikot and Jajarkot districts have came into operation last week. Humla along the Karnali Corridor has come to Surkhet to stage a sit-in and Simikot, the district headquarters of eased vehicular movement in the demand for land plots. Humla, is 196 kilometres from Khulalu region. Nepal Army had begun the “The provincial government has of Kalikot. construction of the road track in already said that providing land is not Ratan Bahadur Shahi, chairman of March 2015. The construction work under its jurisdiction. And our POST PHOTO: KALENDRA SEJUWAL Kalikot Chamber of Commerce and has now reached its final stage voice has not yet reached the federal The protesting Badi people have been staying in makeshift tents for the past two weeks. Industry, said that markets had been with only a kilometre of the road government,” said Prem Badi, the extended and business activities track to be opened. The total length of chairman of Badi Rights Struggle five-member Badi family who does not 26-point agreement with the agitating said. “We can barely manage two increased with road connectivity. the road from Khulalu to Salisalla is Committee. “We have not slept well or have land. community. square meals a day for our family now. “The goods are available in the local 123 kilometres. eaten full meals since we arrived here. “I have never owned land in my life. On January 7, 2009, the Cabinet On top of that, I have to worry about markets at the same price as in the “The remaining one kilometre of It is still uncertain how long we’ll be I came here to take part in the sit-in so decided to rehabilitate the Badi com- her studies.” district headquarters”, said Shahi. the road track will be opened by mid- staying here.” that my children and grandchildren munity by giving them land and pro- Life in the makeshift tents is not The construction of the Karnali May. If everything works as expected, The Badi community is one of the can have their own land,” said viding them with income-generating easy, says Prem Badi, chairman of Corridor is underway at the estimated the road section will be handed over to most deprived and marginalised Moti Badi of Manma in Kalikot. “But skills. The government’s objective was Badi Rights Struggle Committee. cost of Rs2.84 billion. The NA said that the government within the current groups in Nepal. According to the the government never listens to our to end poverty in the community and “Children, women and senior citi- it cost around Rs 7 million to con- fiscal year,” said Major Milan Karki, National Census conducted in 2011, problem.” help its women to be free from prosti- zens are affected the most by the cur- struct a kilometre of the road stretch. who is also the chief at the Nepal there are 38,603 Badis living across the The Badi community has been tution with other financially reward- rent living situation,” he said. “Even The road project has also created Army Road Construction Task Force country—less than one percent of struggling for a long time in Nepal. ing options. the tents are not sufficient for every- employment opportunities in various in Karnali. Nepal’s total population. In 2005, the Supreme Court had “But until now, the promises made body. Many are sleeping under the As per a book published last year ordered the government to provide by the government have not been open sky with empty stomachs.” named Identity and Status of Badi birth registration and citizenship addressed. Even today, the Badi people Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Community, around 43 percent of certificates to Badi children. However, have to live with the same hardships. of Surkhet Chhabilal Rijal said a Badi people do not possess land of a delay in the implementation of This is why we started this protest,” memorandum submitted by the repre- their own while many of the remain- the Court’s decision led to a series of said Hikmat Badi, coordinator of the sentatives of the Badi community has ing 57 percent live on public land. The protests in Kathmandu two years Badi Struggle Committee. been forwarded to the Ministry of book also says around 75 percent of later. This time, 82 school-going Badi chil- Home Affairs for hearing. Badi people can barely manage food In 2007, more than 500 members dren have also participated in the “The local administration has for themselves. of the Badi community from 23 dis- ongoing sit-in. The children along informed the Badi people that their The protesting Badi people tricts staged a demonstration in with their parents are taking shelter demands will be addressed by the submitted separate memorandums to front of Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. in flimsy huts. Land Problems Resolution the provincial government and federal The protests subsequently paved the Gauri Badi, whose children are part Commission,” Rijal said. “The com- government through the Chief way for the rehabilitation and of the sit-in, said that she is worried mission is collecting data on landless District Office of Surkhet on February social integration of the Badi people. about her children’s studies. people through the local units. 24, demanding that the authorities Bowing to pressure from the protest- “My eight-year-old daughter has not Badi people should also be included in POST PHOTO: TULARAM PANDEY provide 15 kathas of land for a ers, the government had signed a gone to school due to the protest,” she the list.” The road project has made it easier for goods to be transported to rural villages in Karnali. Short of doses, government ... House of confrontation

>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 immunisation programmes of children. >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 parliamentarians with it. one who had “killed” it, only to be saved by The United Nations health agency has committed to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate Kattel had registered the Nepal Communist The Dahal-Nepal faction held a meeting the Supreme Court. providing as a grant enough vaccines to inoculate 20 the programme by taking the jab at the Tribhuvan Party with the Election Commission in of its Parliamentary Party on Friday, where “We are discussing this issue well,” said percent of the country’s population but with a University Teaching Hospital, according to 2013. When Oli and Dahal had approached it claimed that around 115 parliamentari- Bhim Rawal, a lawmaker from the Dahal- worldwide scramble for the Covid-19 vaccine it is Pokharel. the Election Commission in May 2018 after ans—from the House of Representatives Nepal faction. “We will make a decision by unclear when the rest of the vaccines will be deliv- The ministry said that President Bidya Devi they announced the merger of their CPN- and the National Assembly—were present. Sunday morning.” But how moral that ered to Nepal. Bhandari, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), the poll The Oli faction held a meeting of its move would be is a question and that apart, Earlier, apart from those above 55, teachers of and office bearers of various constitutional bodies body had initially refused to register it Parliamentary Party on Saturday. It also there are several issues that would make it both private and community schools and staff mem- will also be inoculated in the second phase of the saying that a party with the same name had claimed that around 115 parliamentarians too difficult for the House Speaker, accord- bers of private and public transportation services— campaign. already been registered. Oli and Dahal had were present—from the House of ing to people with good knowledge of par- totalling an estimated 300,000—were in the Health Experts say that success of the second phase of then registered their Nepal Communist Representatives and the National Assembly liamentary affairs. Ministry’s target group. But it is unclear when they campaign depends on the participation of the tar- Party by adding Nekapa, or NCP, within in total. Som Bahadur Thapa, a former secretary will get the jabs. geted group. brackets. Neither faction has divulged the number at the Parliament Secretariat, said had the “We can inoculate other people after we receive “We’d like to request all people above 65 to take If the Supreme Court passes a verdict in of lawmakers from the lower house present Election Commission taken a decision on additional doses,” said Dr Roshan Pokhrel, chief the vaccine, which is safe and effective,” said favour of Kattel, thereby making the Nepal in their meetings. When it comes to no-con- the Nepal Communist Party legitimacy specialist at the Health Ministry. Pokhrel. Communist Party (NCP) illegitimate, poli- fidence motion and electing a new prime row, things would have been much easier in Besides those coming from the WHO on Sunday Officials are aware of vaccine hesitancy among tics is likely to take a completely different minister, lawmakers from the lower house the House. “Sunday is going to be a tough and the Serum Institute of India within a week, the population and have directed concerned agen- course, with most making a prediction that matter, not those from the upper house. day for the Speaker to ensure the House China has committed to provide 800,000 doses of the cies to monitor the situation. the situation would return to the pre-May Multiple leaders from the Dahal-Nepal functions smoothly and decently,” Thapa BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by the Beijing “A minor incident [adverse effects following 2018 stage. That will mean two different faction said that they do want to unseat Oli told the Post. Speaker Agni Sapkota already Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd (BBIBP) in immunisation] could affect the immunisation pro- parties—the UML and the Maoist Centre. and that a no-confidence motion against faces accusations that he has been siding China under Sinopharm and officials hope to receive gramme,” Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, coordinator of the With Oli now having quite some former him is the only way but they admitted that with the Dahal-Nepal faction. Sapkota was them within the next few days. Covid-19 vaccine advisory committee, told the Post. Maoists and the Dahal-Nepal faction hav- they have not taken any decision to that elected House Speaker in January last year The government’s plan to buy an additional five “But we have alerted the agencies concerned ing a number of former UML members, effect yet. after a weeks-long tug-of-war between Oli million doses has hit a roadblock as the Serum about it and have directed them to take all possible including leaders like Nepal, Jhala Nath Bhusal, a lawmaker from the Dahal- and Dahal. Institute of India has not responded to its request to measures to address any untoward incidents at Khanal, Yogesh Bhattarai and Ghanashyam Nepal faction, said there is a lot of confu- Sapkota had made his reservations public sell the doses to Nepal, according to officials. the earliest.” Bhusal to name a few, more political com- sion regarding the filing of a no-confidence about Oli’s House dissolution, calling it an It has also refused to sell the scarce vaccine for the Nepal rolled out its vaccination drive on plications are likely. motion due to the party’s legal status. unconstitutional move. He had even held earlier price and now wants $5.50 to $6 per dose, January 27 with 1 million doses of vaccine provided “The Nepal Communist Party has not “The Nepali Congress also has a problem consultations with some parties regarding officials at the Health Ministry said. by India under grant assistance. In the first split yet legally, so there is no question of supporting us unless the party is legally calling the House meeting even as the case The Public Procurement Act-2015 does not allow phase, front line workers—health workers, female supporting one or the other,” said Minendra divided,” said Bhusal. “I don’t think the was pending at the Supreme Court. the same product or service to be bought at a higher community health volunteers, security personnel Rijal, a Central Working Committee of the no-confidence motion could be registered Taranath Ranabhat, a former Speaker of price and to untangle this legal knot, the Cabinet deployed for the management of bodies of people Nepali Congress. “First, we will see how on Sunday.” the House, said the Dahal-Nepal faction too has to make a decision. who died due to complications arising from Prime Minister Oli defends his unconstitu- With both factions led by Oli as well as has a moral question before it, as it has With the World Health Organization on February coronavirus infections—as well as prisoners, tional move of dissolving the House when Dahal and Nepal in a bid to prove their already sacked Oli as the leader of the 16 authorising emergency use of Covishield, the ambulance drivers, people residing in old-age he appears before the reinstated House majority—not by actions but just by words, Parliamentary Party and elected Dahal as global roll-out of the vaccine supplied through homes, journalists, diplomatic staff, employees tomorrow. Oli faces a huge moral and polit- Sunday’s House meeting could see confron- the Parliamentary Party leader. COVAX began and its demand has gone up. of financial institutions, representatives and ical question.” tation, some observers say. In a parliamentary system, the leader of Covishield, developed by the University of Oxford staffers of local governments and lawmakers were Asked if the Congress party would be After being politically split, the party’s the Parliamentary Party of the party that and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant inoculated. interested in filing a no-confidence motion lawmakers are likely to be split physically commands a majority is chosen for the AstraZeneca, is the preferred choice of Nepal as the As the elderly with comorbidities are more of its own against Oli, with the support of also when the House meeting commences, prime minister’s post. country’s existing system supports storage and sup- at risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19, the Dahal-Nepal faction, Rijal said the as the Dahal-Nepal faction, which is acting “Oli will go to the House to prove his ply of the vaccine. authorities are eager that they get vaccinated in the party has not thought along these lines yet. like an “opposition”, is likely to choose to sit legitimacy, while the Dahal-Nepal faction But for the moment, the Ministry of Health and second phase. “Such decisions are not taken over- on the other side of the aisle. But technical- will try to oppose his move,” Ranabhat told Population plans to inoculate all those above 65 “It is also the responsibility of the family mem- night,” Rijal told the Post. ly, lawmakers from the Dahal-Nepal faction the Post. “Confrontation is inevitable. The years with the Covishield vaccine. bers to get their eligible parents and grandparents While the Dahal-Nepal faction is claim- are also part of the ruling party as of now. only question is whether it is limited to The programme will be launched from more than immunised to keep them safe from the infection, as ing to have around 115 parliamentarians Some leaders from the Dahal-Nepal fac- verbal or goes beyond.” 2,000 immunisation centres of the over 16,000 such elderly people are at a greater risk of dying,” said on its side, a similar claim is being made tion have hinted that they would try to stop centres set up throughout the country for regular Pokharel. by the Oli faction—that it has even more Oli from entering the House, as he was the Tika R Pradhan contributed reporting.

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Pashupati Area

Speed breakers to be removed Development BARDIYA: An all party meeting on Friday decided to remove breakers Trust’s new from Khata biological corridor along the Postal Highway in Bardiya. The breakers were constructed along the 1.5km-long highway eight months building for shops ago to minimise hit and run cases. Chief District Officer of Bardiya Santa Bahadur Sunar said, “The remains unused decision to remove the breakers was made in light of the increasing ANUP OJHA cases of attacks by wild animals.” KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 As pilgrims visiting the Pashupatinath Salt solution technology to temple early morning pass through the Bankali area, shopkeepers selling flowers, preserve dead bodies souvenirs and offerings for the temple SUNSARI: The BP Koirala Institute of descend on them. They forcefully try to sell Health Sciences in Dharan has pre- their wares to pilgrims, especially if they pared a saturated salt solution tech- have come to the holy site empty-handed. nology to preserve dead bodies. While some pilgrims buy from the shop- According to Dr Prabhakar Yadav, an keepers, others who see them as nuisance, associate professor at the Department shoo them aw a y. of Anatomy, the hospital has started To address this very problem, Pashupati using the technology from Friday. Area Development Trust in 2016 construct- “The hospital had been testing the ed a complex in Bankali to house over five technology since mid-November 2020. dozen shops. But instead of selling their We can now preserve dead bodies for products from the shops, the shopkeepers, at least a year.” who operate from shacks rented out by the trust, continue to create hassles for pilgrims. Man held on murder charge “The trust has already built a building PALPA: Gulmi police made public a for shops. But these sellers continue to 47-year-old man on the charge of kill- pester pilgrims,” said Dipti Adhikari, a ing a 21-year-old woman of Resunga resident from Purano Baneshwor, one of Municipality Ward No. 3 on Thursday. the pilgrims heading to the temple on a According to police, the body of the recent morning. woman who went missing on “Every time I come to Pashupati through February 11 was found near her POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR Bankali, I see visitors face so much nag- house on March 1. Pedestrians are stuck in the middle of the road at Sahid Gate, Kathmandu. Drivers pose risk to pedestrians’ lives by not stopping for them even at zebra crossings. ging,” Adhikari told the Post. “The sellers force their goods on to the visitors,” added the 37-year-old. Pashupatinath, considered one of the holies of Hindu temples, reopened in December after remaining closed for nine months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Over Water from Melamchi finally arrives in Kathmandu 20,000 visitors visit the temple every day according to the trust. Construction of the complex for shops After decades of bungling, project will first clean the tunnel and then distribute water to households in the city, officials say. was completed during the tenure of former member-secretary Govinda Tandon in CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL said Belbase. “After a tiring wait and body that oversees the water supply like laying pipes, constructing nine a report to the ministry and the 2016. A year later, the Ministry of Culture, KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 immense efforts, we have reached a project. “It shows there are no major reservoir tanks for storing water board. Tourism and Civil Aviation appointed crucial state of supplying water to defects inside the tunnel.” before distribution has been The national pride project is Pradeep Dhakal as member-secretary of Melamchi water has finally entered Kathmandu Valley.” According to Khatri, only five per- completed. expected to divert 170 million litres the trust. It’s been over three years since Kathmandu Valley. The water from Melamchi will not cent of the tunnel’s water carrying Government officials estimate it of water daily to the Valley from he took charge, but Dhakal has been una- After a decades-long wait and miss- reach the homes of Valley residents capacity was used for the test in the will take at least two more months Melamchi River in Sindhupalchok ble to relocate the shops. ing countless deadlines, water from immediately. The water was supplied initial phase. “The tunnel testing is before the Valley residents will get district in the first phase. In the sec- “We tried to relocate them, but there are the Melamchi river in Sindhupalchok for cleaning the tunnel. The wastewa- likely to go for nearly two months Melamchi water at their households. ond phase, the project is estimated to only 64 shops available for over 200 sell- district has finally made it to ter will be slowly flushed into the before the water can be put into the The project had conducted a simi- fetch 170 million litres of water each ers,” said Dhakal. He said the trust is try- Kathmandu. from Yangri and Larke rivers, supply- ing to convince the shop owners and find Water from Melamchi River, which ing 510 million litres of water daily to another alternative for them to resolve the is being diverted to quench the thirst Kathmandu Valley. problem. of Capital residents, on Saturday The project has long been When the Post visited the shop complex, afternoon reached Sundarijal, mark- embroiled in controversy and all the shops were closed, and beggars and ing a milestone for the elusive pro- plagued by several delays over the sadhus were sleeping in front of it. ject, which has been marred by years years. After the Italy-based “We are ready to go if the trust gives us of delays, corruption, and misman- Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di alternatives,” said Nanu Basnet, 42, who agement. Ravenna (CMC) abandoned the pro- has been selling flowers in the area for “Melamchi water reaching ject in December 2018 over a financial three generations. “I also don’t want to Sundrijal is a new beginning,” said dispute with the government, a create hassles for customers,” she added, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chinese contractor was hired in admitting that pilgrims are sometimes speaking at an event organised to September 2019 for completing the forced to buy offerings. mark the arrival of water at remaining works. “I have been to the police station four Sundarijal. “A long dream of bring- Then the Covid-19 pandemic fur- times, because I was attacked by another ing water from Melamchi to ther hit the progress when the shop owner. Here only those that can fight Kathmandu Valley has come true much-awaited project was on course can sell their souvenirs or flowers,” said today. This is a happy day as we have to meet a fresh deadline of mid-July, Basnet. She said she needs to pay Rs 8,000 succeeded in bringing drinking 2020 for supplying water to Katmandu. to the trust every month for a small shack water for a large number of the popu- Then Water Supply Minister Bina that she uses as a shop. lation.” Magar, in February last year, had Sahadev Basnet, 64, another flower shop The water from Melamchi reached vowed that Melamchi water would owner, however, said he is not willing to Sundarijal as part of the tunnel test- reach Valley by the end of the fiscal shift to the new place. “This is our family ing process. The Melamchi Water year 2019-2020. business for generations and the only Supply Project had started testing its For now, the Melamchi water will source of income. If we relocate, our busi- 26.3 km tunnel by releasing water be slowly released into the Bagmati ness will suffer,” said Basnet. into it on February 22. The water was river. The water coming from He said that only authentic shopkeepers released into the main tunnel in the Melamchi will be then held for a few who have been in the business for a long intake area at Helambu Rural more days and once the tunnel is full, time should be allowed to run shops in the Municipality-1, Sindhupalchok. it will be completely flushed into area. “We are the real traders of flowers, After 12 days of its journey from Bagmati on March 10. the government demolished our house Sindhupalchok through the long tun- “More water will be dropped into because it was on the premises of nel, the Melamchi water reached the Bagmati from March 10, meaning Pashupatinath, and it gave us this place to Sundarijal, in Gokarneshwar PHOTO COURTESY: RAJAN KAFLE/ PRIME MINISTER’S SECRETARIAT Shivaratri festival devotees can bathe run a shop,” said Basnet. “But now new Municipality, northeast of Water from Melamchi River, which is being diverted to quench the thirst of Capital residents, on Saturday afternoon reached Sundarijal, in relatively clean water. This will people have shown up,” said Basnet. Kathmandu. marking a milestone for the elusive project marred by years of delays and mismanagement. also help in cleaning the Bagmati Tandon, former member-secretary at the According to Madhav Belbase, sec- river,” said Oli. trust, said it was a misfortune that the new retary at the Ministry of Water Bagmati river. water treatment plant at Sundarijal.” lar test in July last year. But the test “For now, the Melamchi water has building hadn’t been used. “If the shops Supply, 260 litres of water was “The water that came at Sundarijal Two water treatment plants—each resulted in a disaster when the been released into the river. The were relocated, the place would have released into the tunnel per second was for flushing the tunnel and is a with a capacity of 85 million litres— high-velocity water burst-open a con- arrival of water at Sundarijal guar- looked better and visitors would not for the test. significant development,” said Tiresh have been built for storing and treat- trol gate, killing two employees. This antees that Melamchi water has have to bear with the problem,” said “Although the project was affected Prasad Khatri, executive director of ing the water before it is distributed time, a group of four experts had reached Kathmandu and will Tandon. due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we the Melamchi Water Supply to the Valley residents. Most works studied the tunnel, intake structure, be reaching the doorsteps of He said over 250 million was spent to have made remarkable progress,” Development Board, the government for supplying water to the households and water control gate and submitted Kathmandu residents soon.” construct the new building, but in vain. As chief ministers go troubleshooting for Oli, provincial governance takes hit Every time prime minister faces trouble in the Nepal Communist Party, Pokharel and Gurung rush to Kathmandu. They are now at the forefront of efforts to save the party.

BINOD GHIMIRE days, Pokharel might come again in a “However, they are equally busy in in , said while it was KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 couple days, according to his personal managing party activities in good for the federalism that the lead- aide. Kathmandu,” he told the Post. ers of the stature of Pokharel and , chief minister Pokharel, who is a close confidant Both Gurung and Pokharel are Gurung are leading the provincial of , had a pre-sched- of Oli, rushes to Kathmandu, whenev- ambitious leaders aspiring for governments, the dual responsibility uled plan to inaugurate a drinking er the party or Oli is in trouble. On leadership positions in the party in has affected their performance in the water project in Syangja on Saturday. several occasions, in the past, future. They are also considered studi- provinces. The plan, however, was postponed as Pokharel together with other leaders ous and the administratively able “The provinces would definitely he had to rush to Kathmandu to make from the party including Gurung, leaders. have fared better had they focussed a last ditch effort to keep the Nepal have stopped the Nepal Communist According to an aide to Gurung, themselves as in their job of chief Communist Party intact. Party from splitting. given his position in the party it is ministers,” said Devkota. He left on Friday evening, As the party, which has split politi- natural for him to divide his time Experts feel that they should dedi- a few hours after the Pushpa Kamal cally, is still intact legally, Pokharel between Pokhara and Kathmandu. cate themselves to the party or to gov- Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal and Gurung, Standing Committee “He had to move to Kathmandu erning the provinces. led-faction of the Nepal Communist members from Oli the camp, have despite a busy schedule because he “They always have an option to give Party elected Dahal as the party’s par- been making last minute efforts to also has an important responsibility up the chief ministerial position and liamentary party leader. save party unity. It’s been over a year to save the party,” Bikram Neupane, focus on the party activities,” said Gurung, who is close to Oli, had since the Nepal Communist Party communication advisor to Gurung, Baral. “They should be clear on what been in Kathmandu two weeks back started facing trouble and been on the told the Post. “Trouble in the party they want.” too when he held meetings with the verge of a split. Each time a split was POST FILE PHOTO POST FILE PHOTO doesn’t only affect the centre but also But on the other hand, they are just second rung leaders of the Dahal- averted as the leaders from both the Pokharel Gurung the provinces.” following the footsteps of their leader Nepal faction of the party as an Oli and Dahal-Nepal sides found a Experts say three years passed the Prime Minister Oli, he said. attempt to find ways to avoid a party temporary way out to save the party. tary of the CPN-UML in the eighth tive, therefore, it is natural for them to provincial governments came into “You cannot expect the chief minis- split. He had returned to his duty sta- Pokharel and Gurung have played general convention in 2010. He, howev- be involved in the party activities. being but they are still struggling to ter to stick in their duty stations when tion after a series of meetings. instrumental roles on every such er, was defeated by Ghanshyam Bhusal However, there are limitations, operate as full-fledged federal units. the prime minister of the country Before Gurung landed in the federal occasion. as the party’s deputy general secre- they say. While it is partially because of the doesn’t go to Singhadurbar for Capital, Shankar Pokharel, chief min- In the last one year both the leaders tary from the ninth general conven- According to Lok Raj Baral, profes- centralised mindset of the federal gov- months,” Baral said. ister of , was in have come to Kathmandu at least over tion held in 2014. Gurung was elected sor of Political Science at Tribhuvan ernment, the provincial governments Oli entered his office in Kathmandu holding talks with the a dozen of times mainly to back up Oli secretary of the UML from the ninth University, when Pokharel and are partially responsible for it, accord- Singhadurbar after 10 months on second rung leaders from the Dahal- in the party meetings and to work general convention. Gurung took the office of chief minis- ing to them. February 15 to inaugurate the rebuilt Nepal faction. towards bridging differences within Political experts say in a parliamen- ters, their primary responsibility Khim Lal Devkota, an expert on main administrative building of the Though he returned back to Butwal the party. tary democracy the party leaders are became performing their assigned federalism and former vice-chair of country which had been destroyed in on Thursday evening after a couple of Pokharel was elected as the secre- the one who are elected in the execu- jobs. the provincial planning commission the 2015 earthquake.

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 | 04 OPINION Three years of provincial governments Despite the challenges, all seven have made many achievements.

KHIM LAL DEVKOTA

Nepal has made great strides within a short time of implementing federal- ism. A culture of coordination and cooperation has been promoted between the federal, provincial and local levels. All seven provinces except Province 2 have named their perma- nent capitals. And all except Provinces 1 and 2 have finalised their names. Despite the challenges, the provinces have embarked on important work in a span of three years. During this period, necessary insti- tutional structures have been estab- lished. As per the 57th report of the Office of the Auditor General released last July, 1,080 offices have been formed in the provinces including the directorate. Almost all the provinces have conducted organisation and management surveys based on need and justification. In terms of govern- ment employees, 13,821 staffers have been integrated into the provinces. The main problem seen now is staff POST FILE PHOTO management. Due to a lack of person- Women visit the office of the Province 2 Chief Minister to insure their newly born daughters as part of the ‘Beti Bachau-Beti Padhau’ campaign. nel, the provincial governments have not been able to work as planned. Action Committee have become a tool In order to address the suggestions poor to study Bachelor of Medicine, In terms of responding to the Provincial Public Service Commission The provinces have also prepared to solve the problems of the provinces. and grievances of the people, some Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Province Covid-19 pandemic, the provincial also held up its establishment. roadmaps for provincial development. The Provincial Coordinating Council provinces have conducted Chief 2 has initiated the Mukhyamantri Beti governments have done a commenda- The federal Civil Service Act has Except for Sudhurpaschim Province, under the coordination of the chief Minister, Hello Chief Minister pro- Padau, Beti Bachao Abhiyan (Educate ble job. Some of the tasks include not been passed, and the commissions all the provinces have made public minister for resolving issues between grammes. Bagmati Province has held Daughter, Save Daughter) and Chhori forming sectoral committees at still have problems to function their first periodic plan. Province 1 the province and local levels is also an investment conference to attract Sikchhya Muddati Yojana (Daughter various levels, establishing quaran- properly. has also prepared a 10-year master active to some extent. capital. The event held in Chitwan has Education Deposit Scheme) pro- tine and isolation centres in coordina- The provinces that started from plan for its road network. Development Various thematic committees have created a lot of excitement among grammes. Bagmati Province has tion and cooperation with the local scratch have done a lot despite the and monitoring related structures also been established to coordinate investors. Other provinces are also implemented a One School One Nurse level, managing health equipment and challenges. The most important task such as the Provincial Development and cooperate in social, economic, planning to hold similar events, but programme. Gandaki Province has infrastructure, conducting public is strengthening the foundation of Council and Provincial Development infrastructure and other fields they have been held up due to the started the construction of five model awareness programmes, distributing federalism. After the local level, they Action Committee have also been between the province and local levels. Covid-19 pandemic. schools in Manang, Mustang relief and establishing hospitals. have been able to give the impression formed. The Provincial Public Service The provinces have also provided The provinces are also coordinating and Myagdi districts for enhancing Some provinces have also conducted that the provincial government is also Commission has been formed for the assistance and coordination in the with foreign donors with the permis- education to poor and deprived relief and rehabilitation programmes the closest to the people. In short, over management of staff at the provincial areas of local-level law-making sion of the federal government. For communities. to help affected farmers and a period of three years, the provinces and local levels. At present, the com- and capacity building. The practice example, the Government of Lumbini Province has arranged to industrial and commercial sectors. have worked to instil hope and confi- missions are working on the appoint- of fiscal transfer to the local level Switzerland has agreed to provide a provide monthly scholarships of Lumbini Province has implemented a dence in federalism at all levels. In ment of staff. by the provinces has also been grant of Rs1 billion to the Province 1 Rs1,000 to girls from freed Kamaiya, relief programme in the agricultural order to implement federalism with initiated. Out of the total provincial government for their Provincial Kamalari, Muslim and Dalit commu- sector, and Gandaki Province has sincerity, it is necessary to create a Coordination and cooperation budget of Rs264 billion for the current Support Programme. A bilateral nities who are attending community launched an Rs1 billion business working environment for the provinc- Due to the repeated efforts of the fiscal year 2020-21, the provinces have agreement was signed with the Swiss schools. Karnali Province has started relief package. es. It also needs the attention of the chief ministers, the Inter-Province transferred around 11 percent to the government in January 2020. a technical and vocational higher edu- The last three years were very federal government and the related Council has become active to some local levels. In all provinces, a cation programme for daughters-in- difficult and uncomfortable for stakeholders. The success of the extent. Some work has been done as Provincial Centre for Good Trust in federalism law, Dalits and disabled persons. the provinces. They have not been provincial governments is essential per the federalism implementation Governance has been established. The Various programmes have been imple- Sudhurpaschim Province has con- able to get the expected support from for the success of the federal system facilitation action plan, including centres are providing training on var- mented to improve the social, econom- ducted programmes including Sanai the centre in the areas of resource in Nepal. transferring some institutional struc- ious areas to provincial and local level ic and infrastructural sectors. chhu badhna deu, Balbibaha hoina transfer, organisation building, tures to the provinces. Apart from officials. This institution has also Province 1 has made arrangements for padhna deu (I am small, let me grow staff management, law and policy- Devkota holds a PhD and is a fiscal this, the Inter-Governmental Fiscal given the message of the importance issuing easy educational loans with- up; give me an education, not child making, and capacity building. The federalism and local government Council and the National Development of devolution. out collateral for the children of the marriage) programme. delay in formulating criteria for the analyst.

Asian demonstrators and the American Dream

The generals in Thailand and The US was always a Myanmar have no reason to do like- wise. Biden can threaten sanctions selective supporter of and voice his outrage. But with China willing to step in as Myanmar’s democracy, and now it patron, the junta has no reason to worry very much (though the military is a diminished one. has been wary of China up to now). Thailand’s rulers, too, benefit from Chinese influence, and the country IAN BURUMA has a long history of playing one great power against another. And because Hong Kong is officially part of China, there is little any outside power can do to protect its freedoms, no matter how many American flags people wave in the streets. Dependence on the US in Europe One month ago, in Myanmar, and Asia, and the clout that Americans protesters against the military coup held as a result, was sustained by the gathered around the United States Cold War. Now, a new cold war is loom- embassy in Yangon. They called on ing, this time with China. But US President Joe Biden to make the gen- power has been greatly diminished erals go back to their barracks and since its zenith in the 20th . free Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. Trust in American democracy has Her party, the National League for been eroded by the election of an igno- Democracy, won a big victory in the rant narcissist who bullied traditional 2020 general election, which is why the allies, and China is a more formidable generals, afraid of losing their privi- power than the Soviet Union ever was. leges, seized power. It is also vastly richer. But is the US embassy the best place Countries in East and Southeast to protest? Can the US president do Asia still need US support for their anything substantial apart from security. As long as Japan is hindered expressing disapproval of the from playing a leading military role, coup? The protesters’ hope for a US because of a tainted past and a pacifist intervention shows that America’s constitution, the US will continue to image as the champion of global free- be the main counterweight to China’s dom is not yet dead, even after four increasing dominance. But as years of Donald Trump’s ‘America Thailand’s deft balancing of powers First’ isolationism. demonstrates, US allies are unlikely Demonstrators in Hong Kong last to become ‘client states’ in the way year, protesting against China’s harsh some were before. Even the South crackdown on the territory’s autono- Koreans are careful not to upset their my, even regarded Trump as an ally. relations with China. The US is far; He was erratically hostile to China, so China is near. the protesters waved the stars and This pattern is to be expected. US stripes, hoping that America would LUKE STACKPOOLE/UNSPLASH dominance can’t last forever, and help to keep them free from Chinese 1956, words often prove to be empty. Republic of China, where a ten-meter to work in Thailand, Hong Kong, or ise to hold a free and fair election. Asian countries, as well as Europeans, communist authoritarianism. The Hungarian Revolution, encour- tall ‘Goddess of Democracy,’ modelled Myanmar. The main reason is that the When he tried to steal the result, a US should wean themselves from total America’s self-appointed mission to aged by the US, was crushed after 17 on the Statue of Liberty, was erected former three countries were what left- senator told him to ‘cut and cut clean- dependence on a not-always-dependa- spread freedom around the world has days; the US did nothing to help those on Tiananmen Square in 1989. ists called ‘client states’ during the ly.’ Marcos duly ran for his helicopter ble power to protect them. Being a a long history. Many foolish wars were it had egged on. The Chinese demonstrations ended Cold War. Their dictators were ‘our and ended up in exile in Hawaii. ‘client state’ can be humiliating. Yet, fought as a result. But US democratic Sometimes, however, freedom has in a bloody disaster, but pro-democra- dictators,’ protected by the US as Similarly, when South Korean stu- the day may come when some people, idealism has been an inspiration to been gained with American help, and cy forces toppled Ferdinand Marcos’s anti-communist allies. dents, supported by much of the mid- somewhere, might miss Pax many as well. America long saw itself, not just against Hitler’s tyranny in dictatorship in the Philippines and Propped up by American money dle-class, poured into the streets, Americana, when the US was power- in John F Kennedy’s words, as a coun- Western Europe. During the 1980s, South Korea’s military regime. and military largesse, they could con- angry not only with their military ful enough to push out the unwanted try ‘engaged in a world-wide struggle people in the Philippines and South Support from the US was an impor- tinue to oppress their people, so long government, but with its US backer, rascals. in which we bear a heavy burden to Korea rebelled against dictatorships tant factor. In Taiwan, too, authoritar- as the US saw communism as a global America finally came down on the preserve and promote the ideals that in huge demonstrations, not unlike ianism was replaced by democracy, threat. Once China opened for busi- side of democracy. Dependent on Buruma is the author, most recently, of we share with all mankind.’ those in Hong Kong, Thailand, and again with some US assistance. ness and Soviet power waned, they American military protection, the The Churchill Complex: The Curse of As Hungarians found out when they Myanmar in the last two years. So, of But what worked in the Philippines, suddenly became vulnerable. Marcos generals had to listen when the US Being Special, From Winston and FDR rose up against the Soviet Union in course, did people in the People’s South Korea, and Taiwan is unlikely was pressed on American TV to prom- urged them to step aside. to Trump and Brexit.

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 MONEY Scheme to motivate tax arrears payment sees poor response Indian gold buyers pile in as prices dip Just over 8,000 people have taken advantage of the scheme so far against the targeted participation of more than 40,000. to one-year low PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA taxes, fee and remaining interest will said there are three types of taxpay- KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 also be exempted. ers who don’t submit tax details and REUTERS If any taxpayer having an annual pay the applicable tax. KOLKATA, MARCH 6 When the government introduced a transaction of over Rs5 million had “Some taxpayers ignore submitting waiver scheme targeting people who failed to submit tax details and appli- tax details and paying tax for not Retail consumers in India continued had failed to submit their tax details cable tax until fiscal year 2016-17, they doing any transactions despite regis- to buy up physical gold this week as and applicable taxes, it had expected can submit tax details of those years, tering at the tax office, others default prices retreated to a near one-year low, participation from over 40,000 taxpay- pay applicable tax along with 25 per- on tax willfully and some don’t want while lower rates also injected fresh ers. But with the scheme’s deadline cent of applicable interest by mid- to pay the back tax due to legal battle activity in other hubs, especially nearing, only 20 percent of the target- March this year. The complying tax- with the tax authorities,” he said. Singapore. ed taxpayers have so far approached payers will get a waiver of fee and “The tax dues from willful defaulters Dealers charged up to $5 an ounce the tax offices so far. The scheme remaining interest. should be recovered through adminis- over official domestic prices, inclusive introduced in June last year offers As per the scheme, taxpayers with trative measures.” of 12.5 percent import and 3 percent waiver on fine, interest and service fee VAT dues until fiscal year 2016-17 who A significant number of taxpayers sales levies, compared with last week’s to taxpayers who submit their tax do not participate in the scheme will registered with the tax office don’t premium of $4. details and pay the back taxes of past be de-registered by the tax authority. submit the tax details and are known “Demand has significantly years by mid-March this year. But their VAT dues will be recovered as non-filers and they also don’t pay improved in the past few days. Retail But the number of taxpayers will- nevertheless. the applicable taxes, according to the buyers are making purchases, espe- ing to take advantage of the scheme Department of Inland Revenue. cially for weddings,” said Mangesh has been disappointing, according to In the fiscal year 2018-19, the per- Devi, a jeweller based in Satara in the the Department of Inland Revenue. The waiver scheme centage of non-filers related to western state of Maharashtra. “Only around 5,000 taxpayers out of income tax was 48 percent, as per the On Friday, local gold futures fell to the targeted 29,447 who had VAT dues, was introduced in a department’s Annual Report 2019-20. 44,217 rupees per 10 grams, a trough have approached the tax offices so far. Non-filers of income tax of the last since April 7. Likewise, only 3,000 taxpayers out of bid to recover fiscal year 2019-20 will be determined Jewellers were also making healthy 11,303 who owed back income taxes this fiscal year as they are supposed to purchases in the first half of the have come forward to clear their unpaid taxes. pay the income tax of last fiscal year week, but now a few of them have dues,” said Mukti Pandey, deputy in the current fiscal year. paused expecting further fall in pric- director general of the department. The proportion of taxpayers failing es, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a “Many taxpayers have the tendency Pandey said that the tax authority to pay VAT in the fiscal year 2019-20 bullion importing bank. of paying their taxes in the last few has made several efforts to increase was 38.46 percent, a sharp increase In Singapore, premiums of $1.60-$2 days before the deadline, so we hope the participation of taxpayers through from 25.1 percent in the fiscal year an ounce were charged, with strong that more taxpayers will participate the scheme. 2018-19. One of the reasons for the demand arising from low local prices. in the scheme.” “We have created awareness cam- surge in the proportion of non-filers is “We’ve seen an increase in demand, Pandey is not expecting all the tax- paigns at the local level, asked local the extension of the deadline for sub- in particular from retail clients, for payers to participate in the scheme. governments to help us identify the mitting VAT details and making pay- both gold and silver, as prices have “Some of the people are out of con- taxpayers, sent messages to the tax- ment because of the lockdown, accord- come down a bit,” said Brian Lan, tact and many have folded their busi- payers through mobile and issued the ing to the officials. managing director at dealer nesses and moved abroad,” he added. notice through business associations The government had extended the GoldSilver Central, adding that whole- On October 9 last year, the depart- SHUTTERSTOCK and chambers,” he said. deadline several times. The latest salers are also covering their short ment had made public a list of taxpay- Tax officials and experts say that an increase in the number of non-filers is due to the rise in A former official at the department extension was till August 26 last year positions. ers with VAT dues. On November 24, non-compliance to the tax laws. told the Post that the participation in since the lockdown was imposed on Chinese customers were charged the tax authority released another such a waiver scheme used to be fairly March 24. Tax officials and experts premiums of about $6-$7 an ounce list of taxpayers who had not submit- pay the VAT until mid-July 2018 and applicable tax for the fiscal years good in the past.“I don’t know why the say that an increase in the number of over benchmark spot gold prices, ted tax details and were avoided pay- and 50 percent of applicable interest 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 along with participation remained low this time. non-filers is due to the rise in non-com- unchanged from last week as demand ing their tax. by mid-March this year. In return, the 50 percent of applicable interest as per Perhaps, it may be due to the impact pliance to the tax laws. was stable, but not high, dealers said. The waiver scheme was introduced concerned taxpayers can enjoy exemp- Section 21 (1) and (2) of the Financial suffered by businesses due to the “The government should focus In Hong Kong, dealers sold bullion in a bid to recover unpaid taxes. tion of fine, additional fee and remain- Act 2020. Covid-19 pandemic, or perhaps the on increasing compliance to boost at anywhere between a discount of $3 As per Section 21 (3) of the Financial ing interest. For doing so, the concerned taxpay- publicity was not as widespread,” the revenue amid shrinking revenue,” and a premium of $2 relative to the Act 2020, the tax authority asked the The tax authority also asked the ers will not have to submit tax details officials said. said former finance Secretary Shanta benchmark. Japanese dealers charged taxpayers to submit VAT details and taxpayers to submit income tax details of earlier fiscal years while applicable Another former department official Raj Subedi. a premium of $0.50.

FOREX Oil guzzler India US Dollar 117.12

Euro 139.82 says OPEC+ decision Pound Sterling 161.70 to hit economic Japanese Yen 10.79 Chinese Yuan 18.06 recovery Qatari Riyal 31.69

Australian Dollar 89.80 REUTERS NEW DELHI, MARCH 6 Malaysian Ringit 28.75 India, the world’s third-biggest oil Saudi Arab Riyal 31.22 importer and consumer, on Friday Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank said the decision by major producers to extend output cuts as prices move higher could threaten the consump- PRICE PER TOLA tion led-recovery in some countries. BULLION The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Fine Gold Rs 85,600 allies, a group known as OPEC+, agreed on Thursday not to increase Silver Rs 1,250 supply in April as they await a more substantial recovery in demand amid SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA the coronavirus pandemic. Oil prices jumped more than 2 per- cent on Friday, hitting their highest GASOLINE WATCH in nearly 14 months in reaction to the decision. “As one of the largest crude-con- suming countries, India is concerned that such actions by producing coun- tries have the potential to undermine consumption-led recovery and more so hurt consumers, especially in our price-sensitive market,” Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan told Reuters. India, hit hard by the soaring oil prices, has urged producers to ease output cuts and help the global eco- nomic recovery. “The decision by OPEC+ has sad- dened us. It is not good news for India, China, Japan, Korea and other con- suming nations,” Pradhan said. Rising oil prices are posing fiscal challenges for India, where heavi- ly-taxed retail fuel prices have touched record highs in some parts of the country, threatening the demand-driv- POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC en recovery. A shopkeeper arranges mannequins at his store in Ason, Kathmandu. US labour market roars back; full recovery still years away

REUTERS “There remains easy fuel for strong ditions are consistent with maximum economy has recouped 12.7 million of decreased by 61,000 jobs because of yields have spiked as investors antici- WASHINGTON, MARCH 6 payroll gains in coming months as the employment.” the 22.2 million jobs lost in the pan- bitter cold across the country. pate higher inflation. Biden is not reopening gains momentum,” said Nonfarm payrolls surged by 379,000 demic recession. Government payrolls dropped by backing down. The US economy created more jobs Robert Rosener, an economist at jobs last month after rising 166,000 in Economists polled by Reuters had 86,000 jobs, with losses concentrated at “Without a rescue plan, these gains than expected in February as falling Morgan Stanley in New York. “But January. Payrolls fell in December for forecast February payrolls increasing state and local governments. The dif- are going to slow,” Biden said at a new Covid-19 infections and addition- there is much further to go before con- the first time in eight months. The by 182,000 jobs. Restaurants and fusion index, or measure of private White House economic briefing. “We al pandemic relief money from the bars hired 286,000 workers, account- industries expanding, jumped to 57.0 can’t afford one step forward, two government boosted hiring at restau- ing for 75 percent of the payrolls gain. from 48.4 in January. steps backward. People need the rants and other services businesses, There were also increases in employ- Unseasonably cold weather short- help now.” firmly putting the labour market ment at hotels and motels and at ened the average workweek to 34.6 Fed Chair Jerome Powell on recovery back on track. amusements, gambling and recreation hours from 34.9 hours. Thursday again brushed aside the Though job growth momentum is establishments. The surge in hiring follows on the inflation concerns, saying he expected expected to build in the months ahead Altogether, leisure and hospitality heels of a strong rebound in consumer the US central bank “will be patient” amid an acceleration in the pace of employment jumped by 355,000 jobs, spending in January, which prompted until the economy is “very far along vaccinations and more fiscal stimu- making up 94 percent of all jobs creat- economists to sharply upgrade their the road to recovery.” lus, it will probably take several years ed last month. growth estimates for the first quarter. Even as the labour market recovery for the labour market to heal from Temporary help, a harbinger for A decrease in daily coronavirus is regaining steam, ample slack the deep scars inflicted by the corona- future hiring, increased further. cases and hospitalizations, and nearly remains. Though the unemployment virus pandemic, which is now in its Healthcare and social assistance also $900 billion in stimulus provided by rate fell to 6.2 percent last month from second year. added jobs, and retailers hired 41,000 the government at the end of 6.3 percent in January, it continued to The Labour Department’s closely workers. Manufacturing payrolls December are driving the revival in be understated by people misclassify- watched employment report on Friday increased by 21,000 jobs. About half of activity. That has raised concerns that ing themselves as being “employed showed at least 4.1 million Americans the factory job gains were in transpor- President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion but absent from work.” Without this have been out of work for more than tation equipment, despite a global recovery plan under consideration by problem, the unemployment rate six months, accounting for 41.5 per- semiconductor chip shortage, which Congress, combined with the Federal would have been 6.7 percent. It cent of the unemployed population in REUTERS has forced some automakers to cut Reserve’s near zero interest rates is about 9.5 percent, including February. Another 3.5 million have A file photo shows construction workers waiting in line to do a temperature test to return to production. and bond purchases, could cause the people who have given up the search permanently lost their jobs. the job site after lunch in New York. But construction employment economy to overheat. US Treasury for work.

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING Indian farmers block Coronavirus variants power surges highway outside Khan survives confidence vote ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Delhi to mark 100th Imran Khan survived a vote of confi- in cases across European countries dence by the country’s parliament on Saturday, days after his party lost a day of protest key Senate seat to an opposition can- Europe records 1 million new Covid-19 cases in a week, an increase of 9 percent from the previous week, WHO says. didate. Ruling party and opposition REUTERS activists clashed briefly outside the ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI, MARCH 6 parliament ahead of the vote, with patients in the hospital with Covidd-19 MILAN, MARCH 6 this week. Poland is opening tempo- local TV channels showing a shoe rary hospitals and imposing a partial Indian farmers began gathering on being thrown at former interior min- The virus swept through a nursery lockdown as the variant has grown Saturday to block a six-lane express- ister Ahsan Iqbal. Khan secured 178 school and an adjacent elementary from 10 percent of all infections in way outside New Delhi to mark the votes in the 340-seat National school in the Milan suburb of Bollate February to 25 percent now. 100th day of protests against deregula- Assembly through an open ballot, with amazing speed. In a matter of Kluge cited Britain’s experience as tion of agriculture markets, to add boycotted by the main opposition par- just days, 45 children and 14 staff cause for optimism, noting that pressure on Prime Minister Narendra ties, the Pakistan Muslim League and members had tested positive. well-considered restrictions and the Modi’s government. Pakistan Peoples Party. The vote fol- Genetic analysis confirmed what introduction of the vaccine have Farmers young and old headed in lowed the contentious results of officials already suspected: The highly helped tamp down the variants there cars, trucks and tractors to the high- Wednesday’s election to Pakistan’s contagious coronavirus variant first and in Israel. The vaccine roll-out in way for a five-hour roadblock to Senate, whose members are chosen identified in England was racing the European Union, by comparison, oppose three farm laws enacted in by provincial parliaments and law- through the community, a densely is lagging, mostly because of supply September 2020 they say hurt them by makers from the lower house. packed city of nearly 40,000 with a problems. opening up the agriculture sector to chemical plant and Pirelli bicycle tire In Britain, the emergence of the private players. Modi has called the US held 100,000 migrants at factory a 15-minute drive from the more transmissible strain sent cases laws much-needed reforms for the heart of Milan. soaring in December and triggered a country’s vast and antiquated agricul- Mexico border in February “This is the demonstration that the national lockdown in January. Cases ture sector, and painted the protests as WASHINGTON: US border agents virus has a sort of intelligence, even have since plummeted, from about politically motivated. detained nearly 100,000 migrants at if it is a single-cell organism. We can 60,000 a day at the peak in early “The Modi government has turned the US-Mexico border in February, put up all the barriers in the world January to about 7,000 a day. this protest movement into an ego according to two people familiar with and imagine that they work, but in the Still, a study shows the rate of issue. They are unable to see the pain preliminary figures, the highest end, it adapts and penetrates them,’’ AP/RSS decline slowing, and the government of the farmers,” said Amarjeet Singh, monthly total since a major border lamented Bollate Mayor Francesco Carabinieri officers patrol one of the main access roads to Bollate, Italy. says it will tread cautiously with plans a 68-year-old farmer from Punjab surge in mid-2019. The figures, which Vassallo. to ease the lockdown. That process state. “They have left us no option but have not been previously reported, Bollate was the first city in begins Monday with the reopening to protest.” show the scope of a growing migrant Lombardy, the northern region that WHO warns against relaxing pandemic fight of schools. Infection rates are Tens of thousands of farmers from influx at the southwest border as US has been the epicentre in each of highest in people ages 13 to 17, and several north Indian states have been President Joe Biden, a Democrat, Italy’s three surges, to be sealed off GENEVA: The arrival of Covid-19 vac- there. On a global level, Covid-19 case officials will watch closely to see camped out on the outskirts of the seeks to roll back some of the restric- from neighbours because of mutant cines should not tempt countries to numbers reversed a six-week whether the return to class brings a capital in bitter cold since December tive policies of former President versions that the World Health relax efforts to fight the coronavirus downwards trend last week despite spike in infections. demanding that the laws be repealed. Donald Trump, a Republican. Organization says are now powering pandemic, top World Health the delivery of millions of doses While the UK variant is dominant Their movement has gained inter- February was Biden’s first full month another uptick in infections across Organization officials said, citing con- of vaccines in recent weeks, WHO in France, forcing lockdowns in the national attention and support, in office. Last month’s total would Europe. The variants also include ver- cern that Brazil’s epidemic could data showed. French Riviera city of Nice and the including from celebrities such as cli- represent the highest tally for the sions first identified in South Africa spread to other countries. “Now is not the time for Brazil or northern port of Dunkirk, the variant mate activist Greta Thunberg and US month of February since 2006. and Brazil. “We think we’re through this. We’re anywhere else for that matter to be first detected in South Africa has singer Rihanna, but several rounds of Europe recorded 1 million new not,” Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergen- relaxing,” Ryan added. emerged as the most prevalent in the negotiations between farmer leaders Covid-19 cases last week, an increase cy expert, told an online briefing. “The arrival of vaccines is a Moselle region, which borders and the government have failed. Afghan president ready to of 9 percent from the previous week “Countries are going to lurch back moment of great hope but it is also German and Luxembourg. It repre- Modi’s government has lashed out and a reversal that ended a six-week into third and fourth surges if we’re potentially a moment where we lose sents 55 percent of the virus circulat- at supporters of the protests discuss polls with Taliban decline, WHO said. not careful.” Record Covid-19 deaths concentration.” WHO chief Tedros ing there. and stands accused by rights activists KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf “The spread of the variants is driv- have been reported in Brazil this week Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the The South Africa variant also is of using heavy-handed tactics to curb Ghani said on Saturday, in a bid to ing the increase, but not only,’’ said Dr and its hospital system is on the brink epidemic in Brazil as “very, very con- predominant in a district of Austria the protests. push forward peace talks with the Hans Kluge, WHO regional director of collapse, driven partly by a more cerning” and warned of a possible that extends from Italy to Germany, While the protests have been mostly Taliban, that his government was for Europe, citing “also the opening of contagious variant first identified regional spillover. (REUTERS) with Austrian officials announcing peaceful, a brief spate of violence on ready to discuss holding fresh elec- society, when it is not done in a safe plans to vaccinate most of the 84,000 January 26 led to the death of a pro- tions, insisting that any new govern- and a controlled manner.” residents to curb its spread. Austria is tester, and the police have filed crimi- ment should emerge through the The so-called UK variant is spread- that were previously effective, WHO After putting two provinces and also requiring motorists along the nal charges against eight journalists democratic process. “Transfer of ing significantly in 27 European coun- experts warned. some 50 towns on a modified lock- Brenner highway, a major north-south over alleged misreporting on the power through elections is a non-ne- tries monitored by WHO and is domi- “That is why health systems are down, Lombardy’s regional trucking route, to produce negative events of the day. gotiable principle for us,” Ghani told nant in at least 10 by the agency’s struggling more now,” Kluge said. “It announced tightened restrictions on test results. As the capital braces for harsh sum- lawmakers at the opening of parlia- count: Britain, Denmark, Italy, really is at a tipping point. We have to Friday and closed classrooms for The South Africa variant, present mers and the harvesting season ment session in Kabul. “We stand Ireland, Germany, France, the hold the fort and be very vigilant.” all age groups. Cases in Milan schools in 26 European countries, is a source begins, farmers gathering on Saturday ready to discuss holding free, fair and Netherlands, Israel, Spain and In Lombardy, which bore the brunt alone surged 33 percent in a week, of concern because of doubts over said they had no plans to turn back inclusive elections under the auspices Portugal. of Italy’s spring surge, intensive care the head of the provincial health whether the current vaccines are fully until their demands were met. of international community. It is up to 50 percent more transmis- wards are again filling up as more system said. effective against it. The Brazilian var- “Bitter cold didn’t affect our move- We can also talk about the date of the sible than the virus that surged last than two-thirds of new positive tests The situation is dire in the Czech iant also appears capable of reinfect- ment, and neither will deathly heat,” elections and reach a conclusion,” spring and again in the fall, making it are of the UK variant, health officials Republic, which registered a ing people who have already had a said Raja Singh, a 58-year-old farmer said Ghani. (AGENCIES) more adept at thwarting measures said this week. record-breaking total of nearly 8,500 bout of the infection. from Punjab state. Anti-coup protests continue in Myanmar as UN urged to hear ‘pleas’

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE YANGON, MARCH 6 India asked to return police who fled across border Anti-coup demonstrators returned to NEW DELHI: Authorities in Myanmar Champhai, a district in the Indian the streets of Myanmar Saturday, a have asked India to return several state of Mizoram, told Reuters that day after a United Nations envoy police officers who sought refuge to she had received a letter from her urged the Security Council to hear the avoid taking orders from a military counterpart in Myanmar’s Falam dis- nation’s “desperate pleas” and take junta, an official in northeast India trict requesting the return of eight swift action to restore democracy. said on Saturday. police to uphold mutual relations The country has been in turmoil Around 30 Myanmar police and between the two countries. since a February 1 putsch ousted civil- their family members came across the Deputy Commissioner Maria CT ian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from border seeking refuge in recent Zuali said on Saturday that she was power, triggering a massive uprising days, as the junta’s suppression of “waiting for the direction” from the from hundreds of thousands angered protesters has turned increasingly India’s Ministry for Home Affairs in to be returned to military rule. violent, with dozens killed since the New Delhi. Security forces have escalated an February 1 coup. This is the first reported case of increasingly brutal crackdown on The senior-most official in police fleeing Myanmar. (REUTERS) demonstrators—killing more than 50 people since the coup—but protesters rallied again on Saturday. The impact has been felt at Security forces fired tear gas and From the dusty roads of northern every level of the national infrastruc- stun grenades in the morning, scatter- Lashio—where young protesters ture, with shuttered hospitals, empty ing protesters, and removed their stared down police behind homemade ministry offices, and banks unable makeshift barricades with bulldozers. shields—to central Loikaw city in to operate. Activist Maung Saungkha said the view of Myanmar’s eastern moun- On Saturday, state-run media movement would persist—even as tains, demonstrators continued to announced that if civil servants security forces continued to step up march for democracy. continued to boycott work, “they their enforcement tactics—as many “Our revolution must win,” chanted will be fired” with immediate effect remember the repression under the protesters in Loikaw, who included from March 8. previous junta. civil servants such as teachers in their But protesters in Myanmar’s com- “In our past revolutions, we never green and white uniforms. mercial hub of Yangon continued to won... this time we must fight to win,” The country’s vital sectors have defy authorities, gathering especially he told AFP. “We must fight together been crippled by an ongoing “Civil in San Chaung—a once-buzzing with the younger generation to get Disobedience Movement”—a cam- township with cafes, restaurants and victory.” The generals have shown no paign urging civil servants to boycott bars that has emerged as a hotspot sign of heeding calls for restraint AP/RSS working under a military regime. for unrest. despite international pressure. A Japanese macaque, also known as a snow monkey, soaks in a hot spring in Jigokudani valley, north-west of Tokyo, on Saturday. Pope, top Shiite cleric plead for ‘peace’ in historic Iraq encounter

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE try’s ancient but dwindling Christian Najaf airport, where posters had been Each were wearing their traditional NAJAF, MARCH 6 community and deepen his dialogue set up featuring a famous saying by religious garb, with a dozen different with other faiths. Ali, the fourth caliph and the Prophet types of robe and headdress on dis- Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, spiritual His meeting with the grand ayatol- Mohammed’s relative, who is buried play in the red-carpeted pavilion set leader of most of the world’s Shiite lah lasted 50 minutes, with Sistani’s in the holy city. up for the visit. Iraq is a Muslim- Muslims, told Pope Francis in a his- office putting out a statement shortly “People are of two kinds, either majority country of 40 million whose toric meeting in Iraq on Saturday afterwards thanking Francis for visit- your brothers in faith or your equals Christian population has shrunk in that the country’s Christians should ing the holy city of Najaf. Sistani, 90, in humanity,” read the banners. the last two decades to just one per- live in “peace.” “affirmed his concern that Christian Francis then headed straight cent, with minorities still complain- The meeting, on the second day of citizens should live like all Iraqis in to the desert site of the ancient ing of ostracism and persecution. the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, peace and security, and with their full city of Ur, where Abraham is During his address, Pope Francis marked a landmark moment in mod- constitutional rights,” it said. believed to have been born in the sec- said freedom of conscience and of ern religious history and a milestone His office published an image of the ond millenium BC. religion were “fundamental rights” in Francis’s efforts to deepen dialogue two, neither wearing masks: Sistani in “It all started from here,” Pope that should be respected everywhere. with other religions. a black turban with his wispy grey Francis said, after hearing from repre- “We believers cannot be silent when He later addressed the rich spec- beard reaching down to his black robe sentatives of Iraq’s diverse religious terrorism abuses religion,” Francis trum of Iraq’s religious communities and Francis all in white, looking communities. said, in a message of solidarity with at Ur, traditional birthplace of the directly at the grand ayatollah. There were Yazidis, whose ances- the minorities persecuted under IS Prophet Abraham, a central figure in Sistani is extremely reclusive and tral heartland of Sinjar was ravaged rule. He also made an impassioned the Christian, Jewish and Muslim rarely grants meetings but made an by the Islamic State group in 2014, as plea for “unity” after conflict. faiths, where he made an impassioned exception to host Francis, an outspo- well as Mandeans, Kakais, Bahais and “Let us ask for this in praying for AP/RSS plea for “unity” after conflict. ken proponent of interreligious dia- Zoroastrians. the whole Middle East. Here I think Pope Francis (right) meets with Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in The 84-year-old pontiff ’s trip to Iraq logue. Shiite and Sunni sheikhs, as well as especially of neighbouring war-torn Najaf, Iraq, on Saturday. is an effort to both comfort the coun- The Pope had landed earlier at Christian clerics, were in attendance. Syria,” he said.

C M Y K Satdobato secure promotion to ‘A’ Division after Khumaltar lose

07 | SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Satdobato secure promotion APF, Police off to flying Joshi makes hole-in-one starts in Mayor’s Cup KATHMANDU: Suman Joshi made a hole-in-one in the Ang Tshiring to ‘A’ Division League SPORTS BUREAU seven for just 27 runs. Sherpa Memorial Golf Tournament KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 at the Gokarna Forest Resort on Police’s Dipendra Singh Airee was Saturday. Joshi achieved the rare feat Second-placed Khumaltar’s shock 2-1 defeat against strugglers Shree Bhagawati assures the pick of bowlers claiming four on the 10th hole to create a history in Departmental teams Nepal Armed wickets. The man-of-the-match gave the country becoming the first person the B-Divison leaders a promotion to country’s top league with two matches in hand. Police Force (APF) Club and Nepal away 24 runs in his eight over to win a car for the feat. He was Police Club made winning starts in with two maiden overs. Lalit Rajbashi rewarded with a Kia Sonet car, after B-DIVISION LEAGUE STANDINGS the Kathmandu Mayor’s Cup one-day grabbed three and Sagar Dhakal two his ball found the cup at 165 yards. cricket tournament that kicked off on wickets respectively. Meanwhile, Sunil Karki secured top Team P W D L GF GA GD PT Saturday. In another match at the TU grounds (NPC) registered in Kirtipur, put into bat first Army finish in the event. The 18 handicap Satdobato 9 8 1 0 15 4 11 25 Karki scored 41 points to clinch the a dramatic two-run win over the were bowled out for 235 in the allotted Khumaltar 10 7 1 2 24 10 14 22 national team skipper Gyanendra 50 overs. In the run chase, APF made trophy. Tahir Shah secured second Bansbari* 9 6 1 2 17 11 6 18 place with 40 points. Hridesh Kumar Malla-led Bagmati Province while 236-9 with two balls to spare. Boys Union 10 5 2 3 17 11 6 17 Singh was the winner of the gross APF edged arch-rival Tribhuvan Army’s Rohit Paudel contributed category on count back. He scored 34 RCT 9 3 4 2 13 11 2 13 Army Club by one in a last over the highest 56 runs while skipper gross points. Vijay Shrestha Einhaus Nayabasti* 9 4 1 4 14 15 -1 12 thriller. Binod Bhandari made 42 runs. finished gross runner-up. Kashmira Shree Bhagawati 10 3 3 4 10 12 -2 12 In the low scoring affair at Mulpani Openers Sompal Kami scored 28 runs Shah clinched the women’s title with Madhyapur 9 3 1 5 10 15 -5 10 grounds, electing to bat first Police and Lokesh Bam 30 runs as they were bowled out for 72 runs in 25.2 shared a 61-run for the 38 points in her kitty. She finished Tusal 10 2 3 5 12 12 0 9 ahead of Gita Gurung who collected overs. In reply, Dipendra Singh first wicket before the former was Shree Kumari 9 2 2 5 10 14 -4 8 claimed four wickets as they bundled dismissed. Bhim Sharki (18), Kushal 32 points. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha Jhamsikhel 9 1 3 5 8 21 -13 6 claimed senior award aged 60 and out Bagmati Province for 70 runs in Malla (11) and Rajesh Pulami (17 not Pulchowk 9 0 2 7 9 20 -11 2 27.2 overs at the match reduced to 38 out) were the other major contribu- above. (SB) *A point each of Bansbari and Nayabasi has been overs per side due to a wet outfield. tors. deducted for finishing in bottom two positions in the Police made a shaky start to their APF bowler Abinash Bohara last season’s league which did not have relegation. Arsenal held 1-1 at Burnley PHOTO COURTESY: ANFA innings and lost wickets at regular claimed three wickets while Amar Action from the match between Boys Union Club and Tushal Youth Club. Boys Union won 1-0. intervals. Opener Sunil Dhamala and Routela and Bhuvan Karki pocketed BURNLEY: Arsenal midfielder Granit the area, prompting match referee middle order duo Anil Sah and Dilip two wickets each. Xhaka compromised his side’s faint SPORTS BUREAU pulled the third win of the campaign Nabindra Maharjan to award the Nath scored 10 runs each while cap- In the run chase, APF made a shaky hopes of a top four finish in the KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 and climbed one spot up to seventh penalty. tain Manjeet Shrestha, who contribut- start to their innings losing four wick- Premier League as the Swiss mid- with 12 points in their kitty. Dona Thapa restored the parity for ed 15 runs, was the only player to col- ets for 16 runs. But middle and lower fielder’s embarrassing mistake gifted Satdobato Youth Club secured promo- Khumaltar, who tasted their second Shree Bhagawati in the 40th minute. lect runs in double digits. middle order batsmen consolidated Burnley a 1-1 draw on Saturday. tion to ‘A’ Division on Saturday after defeat, have only lost to Satdobato in Thapa beat goalie Anjal Shrestha Ariyo Paudel was the most success- the innings. Shankar Rana came at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put their closest rivals Khumaltar Youth their previous match of the league inside the area and shot at the open ful bowler for Bagmati claiming four number four and scored 33 runs while Arsenal ahead early on at Turf Moor, Club succumbed to a shock 2-1 defeat campaign. They have 22 points after post. Aashish Shrestha ensured that wickets in his four-over spell. He con- sixth number Sumit Maharjan con- but Xhaka’s farcical howler allowed against strugglers Shree Bhagawati playing the 10th match and are three they walked away with victory six ceded seven runs and kept a maiden tributed the highest 60 runs. Basanta Chris Wood to equalise before half- Club in the Martyrs Memorial ‘B’ points behind Satdobato, who have a minutes from time after he headed a over. Nandan Yadav pocketed three Regmi played a crucial knock of 49 time. Xhaka foolishly tried to pass the Division League at the ANFA com- match advantage over their rivals. free kick from the crowded area. wickets in his 6.2 overs. runs and Amar Toutela contributed 38 ball out of his own six-yard box plex, Satdobato, on Saturday. Even if Khumaltar win their next In another match, Milan Limbu In the run chase, Bagmati openers runs. instead of clearing it and his miscued Second place Khumaltar could have match and Satdobato lost both remain- scored the lone goal of the match as Gyanendra Malla contributed 22 runs Army bowler Bikram Sob grabbed effort bounced off Wood into the kept their faint hope for promotion ing matches, the two sides will be tied Boys Union Club edged Tusal and Adil Khan 10 runs as no other three wickets while Karan KC picked Arsenal net. Mikel Arteta’s team alive had they beaten Shree Bhagawati at 25 points each. Satdobato would Youth Club 1-0. Limbu headed the batsman managed to touch double dig- two wickets. couldn’t make amends for Xhaka’s in the penultimate match and won the secure promotion in such a situation decisive goal in the 72nd minute after its. Bagmati seemed to be heading for The tournament featuring five blunder and 10th placed Arsenal are next fixture while leaders Satdobato due to head-to-head superior record he headed skipper Abinash Ghising’s an easy victory as they were 3-43 in teams is being played in the round now nine points behind fourth placed lose both of their remaining matches. over Khumaltar. right flank cross from the six-yard 15.3 overs. But after the fall of skipper robin format. The top two finishers Chelsea. With their hopes of qualify- Only the champions in the 12-team Khumaltar seemed to be heading to box. Malla, Bagmati order saw dra- after the league round will vie for the ing for the Champions League via a contest secure promotion while the another win early in the match when With fifth win Boys Union remain matic collapse, losing the remaining title. top four finish in tatters, Arsenal will team finishing at the bottom of they went ahead in the 26th minute. unchanged in fourth place with 17 have to prioritise their match against table will be relegated to the third Sabin KC opened the scoring for points while Tushal are in tenth place Olympiakos in the Europa League division. Khumaltar from the spot after Ayush with nine points. Both teams have last 16 first leg on Thursday. (AFP) Shree Bhagawati, meanwhile, Ghalan was fouled by Aron Thapa in played two matches each. Army’s Basnet wins marathon SPORTS BUREAU top of men’s half-marathon KATHMANDU, MARCH 6 timing 1 hour 6 minutes and 30 sec- onds to complete the 21km distance. India crush England to clinch Test series 3-1 Tribhuvan Army Club’s Krishna Rajan Rokka and Narendra Rawal fin- Basnet clinched his third title of the ished second and third respectively AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE England, who suffered a drubbing Sundar kept up the attack as the skipper Joe Root for 30 to virtually end Chief of Army Staff Open (CAoS) completing the distance in 1:7.11 and AHMEDABAD, MARCH 6 after their two-day loss in the third final three wickets fell on Saturday England’s hopes. The visitors have Marathon in Kathmandu on Saturday. 1:8.84. Test of a series dominated by the spin- morning but ran out of partners and scored more than 200 just once in their Basnet, also the winner of the sec- APF’s Pushpa Bhandari clinched Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and ning wickets. remained four shy of his century. last six innings. ond and fourth editions of the the women’s half-marathon title Axar Patel took five wickets each on Ashwin led the series bowling chart England lost early and regular England fast bowler James full-marathon, completed the distance timing 1 hour 17 minutes and 33 Saturday as India crushed England with 32 wickets followed by Patel, who wickets to go down tamely in 54.5 Anderson made an impression with of 42.195 kilometres in 2 hours 22 min- seconds. inside three days of the fourth Test to played one game fewer, on 27. England overs. his three wickets and 14 maidens in 25 utes and 59 seconds. Nepal Police The silver medalist of the 13th seal their series 3-1. spinner Jack Leach was third with Ashwin struck twice on successive overs. Club’s Bhumiraj Rai, Armed Police South Asian Games and the Ashwin bowled Dan Lawrence for 18 scalps. balls to send back Zak Crawley for five Root stood tall for England as Force (APF) Club’s Gopichandra Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Dhaka 50 as England were bowled out for 135 This win was set up by wicketkeep- and Jonny Bairstow for nought. he topped the batting chart with 368 Parki and Army’s Homlal Shrestha Marathon gold medalist Bhandari had to complete an emphatic innings and er-batsman Rishabh Pant, who made It was Bairstow’s third duck in four runs including 218 in the opening were the winners of the first, second also won the Nepalgunj half-marathon 25 run victory in Ahmedabad. 101 on day two, and Washington innings. Test—his 100th—that England won and fifth editions of the annual event in November last year. Virat Kohli’s India bounced back Sundar, who hit an unbeaten 96 as Patel got opener Dom Sibley for convincingly. respectively. She was also the winner of the from an opening defeat to win three in India made a commanding 365. three and then Ben Stokes for two The two teams now head into five Second-placed Tirtha Tamang was previous edition of the CoAS a row and book their meeting with Pant scored his third Test ton in a after the left-hand batsman miscued a internationals starting only 28 seconds behind Basnet but half-marathon. New Zealand in the World Test 113-run stand with Sundar to lift India sweep and was caught at leg gully by March 12 at the same Ahmedabad Parki clocked 2 hours 23 minutes and Army’s Bishworupa Budha and Championship at Lord’s in June. from a precarious 146-6 in response to Kohli. venue—the world’s biggest cricket 32 seconds to finish third. APF’s Binda Shrestha finished second It was another failure for Joe Root’s England’s first innings total of 205. Ashwin took the prized scalp of stadium. Army’s Gajendra Rai came at the and third respectively. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You’re happiest when you’re in motion and getting a For Cancer, Luna’s link with electric Uranus colors It takes a lot of energy to be a conscientious person, Take a break from frivolous things. Relying on the project underway. Sunday’s skies see to it that you the day with exciting social interactions or changes but you show a knack for it today. You know how to tried and true isn’t boring. It’s comforting. Visit a hop into “action mode,” as the moon glides through of plan, while her nightly meet-up with sweet Venus make everyone else feel comfortable. If you are meet- museum or an online vintage clothing site to gain an capable Capricorn. offers a deeply romantic, cozy space to embrace. ing somebody for the first time, you’ll be able to appreciation for an era when things were made to make a great impression. last.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’re craving a change of scenery under Sunday’s Sunday’s skies offer you the chance to bring fresh The moon roams through dream-inspired Sagittarius As an Aquarius, you require equal parts alone time skies, Taurus. After yesterday’s lazy, action-absent insights and ideas to your workflow, as the responsi- all day, and this lack of action makes for a low-ener- and social interaction. Today’s skies work to focus landscape, you’re ready to experience some excite- ble Capricorn moon aligns with Uranus. Come gy, low-impact day all around—so, despite your your attention on the current state of your friend- ment and a change of pace. Sunday’s skies provide evening, the atmosphere softens putting your focus desire to be productive. Instead, focus your attention ships and involvement in your community. just that. on intimacy. on up-keep.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Sunday’s skies deliver a busy day on an internal Sunday’s skies urge you towards creative action, as Are you obsessed with time? Always checking your You are focused on putting your bigger goals in level, Gemini. The moon marches into responsible the moon marches through capable Capricorn. watch or scheduling your day down to quarter-hour motion but you are finding it difficult to get anything Capricorn, focusing your attention on any unspoken Luna’s supportive link with electric-insight Uranus increments? If you’re feeling rushed in your life off the ground. It’s best to devote your energy to the feelings concerning intimate relationships. helps you pull new ideas down and apply them right now, it’s probably because you give the clock so upkeep of projects already underway, rather than towards creative passion projects. much power. start something new CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 SUNDAY, MARCH 07, 2021 | 08

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