WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 115 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.3 C 13.5 C Friday, June 19, 2020 | 05-03-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom With new map passed, Oli braces once again for challenges from within the party Party leaders had rallied behind Oli to present a united front in the border dispute with India, but they say their patience is fast running out. TIKA R PRADHAN University’s Institute of Medicine, KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 despite Shah being much lower on the seniority list for the position. The The release of a new political and decision prompted criticism from administrative map that includes ter- party leaders, who said only Oli’s con- ritories contested by India had bought fidantes get the appointments even if Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli some they were not capable, said Bhandari. time. But now that the map has been In anticipation of criticism, Oli has endorsed by both Houses of also been escaping party meetings, say Parliament and by President Bidya leaders. Despite around 20 Standing Devi Bhandari, in-fighting within the Committee members, on April 22, ruling Nepal Communist Party is like- making a written demand for a meet- ly to resurface, especially since Oli, ing, Oli has managed to put it off at who is also a party chair, has yet to least three times. He even called off mend his ways, say party leaders. the secretariat meeting twice recently. “Oli has been avoiding party meet- POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI ings because he cannot face party Land plotting near Chobhar, Kathmandu. Open spaces in the Valley are shrinking due to rapid urbanisation as real estate becomes a primary business in cities and urban centres. leaders,” Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Ram Kumari Jhakri told the Post. A standing committee meeting has been called for June 23, but Jhakri does not believe it will take place President approves second Diplomatic talks with India unlikely either. “If a standing committee meet- ing was held, leaders would question Oli on many issues, including the poor amendment to constitution in the aftermath of India-China clash performance of the government in its response to Covid-19.” Oli only has 13 members on his side Through Parliament and with the President’s With India’s attention focused on China following a deadly altercation in the 44-member standing committee. at the border, boundary talks with Nepal unlikely soon, analysts say. They include Bishnu Rimal, Subah seal, the new political map is now officially RSS Nembang, Satya Narayan Mandal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Raghubir Mahaseth, Prithvi Subba part of the charter and the national emblem. believe that India will likely focus all of its Gurung, Kiran Gurung, Shankar attention on first settling the dispute with Party leaders and even the opposi- Pokhrel, Pradeep Gyawali and BINOD GHIMIRE China, which will lead to Nepal’s demands for tion parties had all rallied behind Oli Chhabilal Bishwokarma, General KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 talks falling by the wayside. in the wake of a border dispute with Secretary Bishnu Poudel, Home Nepal has been asking for talks to resolve India over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and The second amendment to the Constitution of Nepal received boundary issues ever since India released a and Kalapani. The fiasco culminated Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar the presidential seal on Thursday evening, completing the new political map in November showing in the release of a new map and its Pokhrel. entire process to update the country’s new map on the national Kalapani as part of its territory. Again, in early subsequent incorporation into the The ruling party is also divided emblem. May, India opened a link road via Lipulekh, constitution on Thursday. over the US-led Millennium Challenge The Parliament Secretariat forwarded the constitution leading Nepal to issue a map of its own that Politicians had refrained from Corporation, which is once again in amendment bill to President Bidya Devi Bhandari a few hours includes Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and speaking out against Oli and his gov- the headlines for its alleged military after the National Assembly endorsed it through a unanimous Kalapani, all territories contested by India. ernment in a bid to present a unified links to Washington. In the nine-mem- vote on Thursday. After Nepal’s House of Representatives front to India but with the map passed ber party secretariat, Oli has Pokhrel, “The amendment bill has been authenticated by the President passed an amendment to the constitution to and India occupied with China after a Poudel and Thapa on his side. But as per Article 274 (10) of the Constitution of Nepal,” read a formally induct the new map into the national violent clash that led to at least 20 Thapa is not likely to support him on statement by Hari Prasad Dahal, spokesperson for the emblem, India had “noted” developments and Indian deaths, party leaders have the MCC. Most opponents to the MCC President’s office. POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI pressed its own claim. Even as tensions were begun to reassert themselves. are former Maoists, including Thapa. The bill to amend the constitution to update the new map, A call for peace in the region during a demonstration rising between Nepal and India, the violent “The prime minister has again “As a member of Oli’s cabinet, which depicts Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani within in Kathmandu on Thursday. clash in eastern Ladakh took place on Monday. resumed his habit of running the gov- Thapa has to support Oli on issues the Nepali territory, was tabled at the Upper House on >> Continued on page 5 ernment unilaterally,” said Hemraj related to the government, but he Sunday, a day after the House of Representatives unanimously ANIL GIRI Bhandari, a central committee mem- won’t be part of the MCC,” said endorsed it. KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 ber. “Leaders have not been speaking Maheswor Dahal, a central committee All 57 voting members of the Assembly voted for the bill. The out because of the map but their member who is close to Thapa. 59-member strong National Assembly is currently one member Days after a fatal clash between Indian and patience is running out.” According to Dahal, who is also a short. Chairperson Ganesh Timilsina did not participate in the Chinese troops in the disputed Galwan Valley After scathing criticism from party former Maoist, Oli and his advisor voting as his vote is required only when there is a tie. left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead, the world members of his unilateral ways, Oli, Bishnu Rimal have come out heavily “As many as 57 members voted for the bill,” announced continues to closely follow developments. Nepal in the secretariat meeting held in in favour of the MCC—the only Timilsina. “There was no voting against the bill and none of has significant interests of its own in a peace- April, had pledged to run the govern- remaining crucial agenda after the the members voted for the neutral category as well.” ful diplomatic solution to the tensions, but it ment in consultation with the party. government’s policies and pro- As per Article 274 (8), any amendment to the constitution also has its own border disputes with India and But recent decisions show that old grammes, budget and the map, which requires the approval of two-thirds members of both chambers. any hope of resolving the issue early through habits die hard. have all been resolved. But Oli is in The bill had received 258 votes in the House, with no lawmak- diplomatic talks might just have vanished, say On Tuesday, Dr Dibya Singh Shah, the minority in most party commit- ers voting against it. analysts. Oli’s personal physician, was appoint- tees and will see opposition. >> Continued on page 5 Strategic experts and former ministers ed the dean of the Tribhuvan >> Continued on page 5 C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY Inside the Post Quote of the day Diplomatic talks with India unlikely in the aftermath of India-China clash, National Page 1 As a number of projects planned under government-to-government deals have sparked controversy in Nepal over their transparency, a government committee has recommended that Germany’s Munich Airport not be appointed as the oper- “India will probably not conduct ator of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. diplomatic talks with Nepal while Opinion scuffling with China over a With cases continuing to rise every day, it’s obvious that we haven’t reached the territorial dispute.” peak of the pandemic yet, but Covid-19 and its multiplying effects have already pushed a large number of people into hunger and poverty in Nepal as measures Geja Sharma Wagle, a strategic analysts, on the prospect of talks to fight the crisis restricted movement and incomes. between Nepal and India to resolve the boundary dispute. Money The lab at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market has restarted rapid bioassay testing of pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits. With the government chang- ing the modality of lockdown and easing the lockdown last week, the decision to Most read online reopen the lab was made on Sunday. World Politicians and analysts in Nepal await developments as India-China clash threatens regional security Early optimism that South Asia might have dodged the worst ravages of the coronavirus pandemic has disappeared as soaring infection rates turn the dense- A violent clash on Monday between Indian and Chinese armies in the disputed ly populated region into a global hot spot.