WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 125 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.6 C 14.0 C Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 09-03-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom In a big blow to Oli, Supreme Court annuls appointments of 20 ministers Interim order asserts government is a caretaker one and terms induction of new ministers earlier this month, after prime minister lost a confidence vote, unconstitutional.

TIKA R PRADHAN final hearing on petitions against his KATHMANDU, JUNE 22 May 21 House dissolution. With Tuesday’s order, the Oli gov- The KP Sharma Oli government is a ernment is left with five ministers, caretaker government. including himself. This is what the Supreme Court The Article of the constitution the said on Tuesday, as it quashed appoint- court has cited to relieve the 20 minis- ments of 17 ministers and three minis- ters of their positions states that if ters of state, citing Article 77 (3) of the the Office of the Prime Minister falls constitution. vacant after the prime minister fails Responding to six different peti- to win a vote of confidence or resigns, tions filed against Oli’s move of the same Council of Ministers shall expanding his Council of Ministers continue to act until another Council twice after his May 21 House dissolu- of Ministers is constituted. tion decision–on June 4 and June 10–a Oli lost a vote of confidence on May divisional bench of Chief Justice 10 after at least 28 members from his Cholendra Shumsher Rana and jus- own party, the CPN-UML, decided to POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI tice Prakash Kumar Dhungana called abstain. The Nepali Congress and the As more shops reopened in Kathmandu on Tuesday, people’s movement increased in Ason. Prohibitory orders have been eased in the Valley with private vehicles and taxis with odd and even the appointments unconstitutional Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist numbers allowed on alternate days and stores other than those selling food items permitted to open on designated days of the week. and ordered not to let the ministers Centre) as well as a section of the discharge their duties. Janata Samajbadi Party voted against. “The appointments of June 4 and 10 But as many as 15 members from the by the President on the recommenda- Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato tion of the Cabinet are against the faction of Janata Samajbadi Party intent and spirit of the constitution,” stayed neutral, as they had committed INSIDE Economic growth target unchanged for states the Supreme Court order. “An support to Oli. interim order has been issued not to Oli, however, was reappointed allow the ministers to perform their prime minister three days later on Settlements in Chure foothills duties until the case is finalised.” May 13 after the opposition alliance at high risk of floods the next three years despite the pandemic Tuesday’s Supreme Court order failed to show a majority, largely comes as yet another blow to Oli, as at because of the Thakur-Mahato fac- KANCHANPUR/DHANGADHI: A week least three of his government’s deci- tion. Constitutionally, Oli needed to back, the flooded Khanya stream, Target of 6.5 percent for 2021-22 may be met if situation normalises given the negative sions have been stalled by the judici- secure a vote of confidence within 30 which flows from the Chure region of ary over the past two weeks, just as the days–by June 12. Kanchanpur district, broke its growth last fiscal year, but double digit growth after that is impossible, experts say. Constitutional Bench is set to start the >> Continued on page 2 embankment and entered the sur- rounding settlements. “We were safe from floods and inundation for a few years because of the embankment. But this year we are at risk,” said Uttam Chand, a local resident of Tilakpur in Bhimdatta Municipality Ward 3. According to the local people, the embankment was constructed by Mahakali Irrigation Project five years ago. “Monsoon has only just begun and the embankment is already dam- aged. The stream has also changed its course towards the settlement,” said Keshav Saud, another local resident of Bhimdatta Municipality Ward 3. “We don’t know how much damage we will have to suffer in the coming months.” (Details on Pg 2)

Expecting mothers who need Caesarean delivery are at risk in flood-ravaged Helambu KATHMANDU: Seventeen-year-old POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Investment in infrastructure has long-term impact on wealth creation, economists say. Chandra Tamang (name changed), a resident of Helambu Rural PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Municipality-2 of Sindhupalchok, is With the country gripped by the KATHMANDU, JUNE 22 expecting her first child in the first second wave of the pandemic, much week of July. Her due date is July 6 of the country has been under prohib- and she has been advised by the doc- When the 15th five-year plan was itory orders and they were eased in tor at her local health facility to go to announced in 2019, the growth target Kathmandu Valley and businesses Kathmandu for delivery. “Since she is for the fiscal year 2021-22 was 9.9 per- allowed to operate from Tuesday after underage, it will be riskier for her to cent, that for 2022-23 was 9.6 percent nearly two months. give birth at the local health facility, and it was 10.3 percent for 2023-24. Experts have meanwhile warned of which is ill equipped and lacks Although the National Planning a third wave within a few months. trained health workers,” Gyanendra Commission, in line with the budget From a high of 9,317 on May 11, the Sigdel, health coordinator of target for the fiscal year 2021-22, number of cases has been coming Helambu Rural Municipality, told the revised the economic growth target to down gradually and on Tuesday the Post over the phone. “It will be diffi- 6.5 percent amid the ongoing the pan- Ministry of Health and Population cult to send her to Kathmandu imme- demic, it has kept the target set by the reported 3,703 cases although the fig- diately in case she has to undergo a periodic 15th five-year plan, that lasts ure stood at 1,584 on Monday. from 2019-20 to 2023-24, unchanged for The Medium Term Expenditure Cesarean section.” (Details on Pg 3) the following two fiscal years. Framework has also kept unchanged The Medium Term Expenditure the most other targets too such as per Government allows limited Framework (2021-22 to 2023-24), capita national income, people living released last week announced the eco- under the poverty line and people liv- domestic flights to resume nomic growth target for the next fiscal ing under multidimensional poverty. KATHMANDU: The government has year was kept at 6.5 percent. The In late April, the Central Bureau of freed domestic airlines to operate Medium Term Expenditure Statistics projected that Nepal’s econ- half the number of flights they were Framework is a document that the omy would grow by 4 percent in the conducting before Covid, and opened National Planning Commission pre- current fiscal year 2020-21 considering up several international routes as it pares every year projecting the that the lockdown would be lifted in moved to loosen the lockdown and get required expenditure of the govern- early May but the prohibitory orders the economy moving. On Monday, the ment for the next three years to meet are still in place. Although the final cabinet decided to lift the virus the growth target. figure for the fiscal year is not expect- restrictions that had kept the country According to Krishna Prasad Oli, a ed until data are reviewed based on paralysed for nearly two months fol- member of the commission, the target complete data for the fiscal year, while lowing a drop in the caseload, offi- for the last two years of the 15th Five- presenting the budget for 2021-22, the cials said. “We have received a copy year Plan is achievable despite the government admitted that meeting of the cabinet decision. We will hold economy being in doldrums since the the projected growth of 4 percent discussions on this matter on start of the pandemic. would be a challenge. Wednesday to fix the operation date,” “Obviously, we have set an optimis- The country suffered a negative Tourism Joint Secretary Buddhi tic target and that is achievable if big growth of 2.12 percent in the fiscal Sagar Lamichhane told the Post. disasters won’t occur again,” he said. year 2019-20, the first time in nearly (Details on Pg 5) “Energy sector is also promising and four decades there was a negative many government and private growth. The country’s economy had sector developed projects are suffered a contraction in the fiscal completing which will boost the year 1982-83 when the economy saw a growth.” negative growth of 2.97 percent. The The targeted growth would be Central Bureau of Statistics had then achievable in normal times, he attributed the negative growth to a added. drought in 1980-81 that led to a severe But with no end of the pan- food crisis. demic in sight, whether it is But it is precisely because of the achievable is open to question. negative growth that economists say “Growth is uncertain at the that the target is achievable for the time of pandemic,” said Govinda fiscal year 2021-22, despite the recent Nepal, a former member of the economic woes of the country. commission. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Settlements in Chure foothills In a big blow to Oli, Supreme Court ... >> Continued from page 1 amendment issues and release of Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, But instead, he prodded President some of its leaders, including Resham Education Minister Krishna Gopal Bidya Devi Bhandari to invoke Article Chaudhary. Shrestha, Law Minister Lilanath 76 (5), saying there was no situation The Supreme Court, however, on Shrestha and Physical Infrastructure at high risk of flood, landslide for him to garner a majority. Bhandari June 10 issued an order to the govern- and Transportation Minister Basanta obliged. ment asking it not to implement the Nembang. All are Oli’s close confi- When Congress President Sher ordinance on Citizenship Act, saying dantes from his UML party. Conservationists blame exploitation of forest and riverbed materials in the Chure region Bahadur Deuba on May 21 laid claim it can have long-term implications. Apart from Oli, the other loser from to the government with signatures of “If you go by the pattern of deci- Tuesday’s court order is the Thakur- for the incidents of floods and landslides occurring frequently in recent years. 149 lawmakers, including 26 from the sions by the Supreme Court in the Mahato faction of the Janata Madhav Nepal faction of the UML, Oli recent days, it clearly looks like Oli is Samajbadi Party. BHAWANI BHATTA IN KANCHANPUR & too went to President Bhandari, claim- becoming weaker by the day and this On June 4, Oli had appointed MOHAN BUDAAIR IN DHANGADHI ing that he had the support of 153 could also be an indication of restora- Mahato deputy prime minister and JUNE 22 lawmakers. Bhandari disqualified tion of the House,” said Narayan minister for urban development. both claims. Oli dissolved the House; Dhakal, a writer and a political ana- Similarly, Sharat Singh Bhandari, A week back, the flooded Khanya Bhandari endorsed. lyst, who was with the CPN-UML in Anil Jha, Laxman Lal Karna, Bimal stream, which flows from the Chure Experts and analysts say Oli had the past. Shrivastav, Uma Shankar Argariya, region of Kanchanpur district, broke become caretaker prime minister the Revival of the House even after Oli’s Chanda Chaudhary and Ekbal Miya its embankment and entered the sur- day he lost his vote of confidence on second attempt to dissolve it will be a were appointed ministers from the rounding settlements. May 10 and that after the dissolution political as well as a moral blow for Janata Samajbadi Party as were “We were safe from floods and inun- of the House, he was authorised only him. Chandra Kanta Chaudhary and dation for a few years because of the to carry out day-to-day governance. “At this time, we have to wait and Renuka Gurung were appointed state embankment. But this year we are at “From the constitutional point of see. Oli now has a handful of minis- ministers. risk,” said Uttam Chand, a local resi- view, the court has made it clear that ters from his faction. It could make it He also appointed Raghubir dent of Tilakpur in Bhimdatta Oli is not a full-fledged prime minis- even more comfortable for him to Mahaseth deputy prime minister and Municipality Ward No. 3. ter,” said Bhimarjun Acharya, an make whatever decisions he wants,” foreign minister and Sher Bahadur According to the local people, the advocate who specialises on constitu- said CK Lal, a political analyst who is Tamang minister from the UML. embankment was constructed by tional law. “After dissolving the House also a columnist for the Post. “It’s On June 10, Khagaraj Adhikari, Mahakali Irrigation Project five years and declaring polls, he was automati- actually a moral issue, but Oli doesn’t Nainkala Thapa, Jwala Kumari Sah, ago. cally reduced to a caretaker prime care about morality.” Narad Muni Rana, Raj Kishwor “Monsoon has only just begun and minister with a mandate to govern for Lal also suspected if this order Yadhav (JSP), Ganesh Pahadi and the embankment is already damaged. just six months.” could be interpreted as the go-ahead Mohan Baniya were appointed minis- The stream has also changed its After dissolving the Parliament for for Oli for elections. ters. Asha Kumari BK was appointed course towards the settlement,” said the first time on December 20 also, Oli “This could also be a basis to give state minister for forest and environ- Keshav Saud, another local resident had refused to admit that he was a legality to his move of dissolving the ment. of Bhimdatta Municipality Ward No. caretaker prime minister and carried House,” said Lal. “In the long run, the Six individuals, including senior 3. “We don’t know how much damage POST PHOTO out a similar expansion of his Council country seems to be heading towards advocate Dinesh Tripathi, on June 7 we will have to suffer in the coming Chure region is becoming fragile every year due to rampant excavation of riverbed materials. of Ministers, which was criticised cancellation of the present constitu- had filed separate petitions demand- months.” then also. tion. When the court, the executive ing that Oli’s expansions of the At least six wards of Bhimdatta and landslides,” said Manandhar. Chure area. After his second House dissolution, and the legislature keep on fighting Council of Ministers be revoked and Municipality are at risk of floods and “Use of machines during extraction Dhan Bahadur Rokamagar, the Oli not only expanded his Council of with each other, how can the constitu- the new ministers barred from dis- inundation if the stream, which flows of sand and stones has caused land- chairman of Chure Rural Ministers but took a slew of decisions, tion sustain?” charging their duties. from the Chure foothill to the slides and soil erosion.” Municipality, said the local govern- which are allowed only to a full-fledged Of the 30 petitions against the “The Supreme Court has stopped Mahendranagar Bazaar area, is not Bijaya Shrestha, a forest expert in ment has allowed the use of heavy government. House dissolution, one is by the oppo- Oli’s intention to become an authori- controlled. Kanchanpur who has been working equipment to speed up the road con- Some of the decisions of the care- sition alliance led by Congress tarian ruler,” said Tripathi, one of the Temporary repair work of the dam- for Chure conservation, said Godabari, struction work. taker Oli government that were stalled President Deuba filed by 146 members petitioners. “The Supreme Court’s aged embankment has started in Khutiya and Gauriganga rivers in Hills in Chure have been levelled by the court in recent days include an of the dissolved House. Of them, 23 recent decisions have helped bring the Khanya stream, but the local people Kailali have been massively exploited flat in several places in Kailali and ordinance on the Citizenship Act, are from the Madhav Nepal faction of constitution back on track. This is a say such interim measures are not over the years. Kanchanpur to construct various export of sand, stone and pebbles, and Oli’s party, the UML. strong indication that the House will going to prevent another disaster from infrastructure. The ward office of development of hydropower projects The opposition alliance has be reinstated.” occurring. Mohanyal-4 was constructed by level- inside the national parks and conser- demanded that the House be restored Bipin Adhikari, an expert on consti- “The Chure region is becoming Hills in Chure have ling a hillock last year. vation areas. and Deuba be appointed prime minis- tutional matters, described Tuesday’s fragile every year due to rampant The local people have also been rais- The June 4 decision to expand his ter, as he had submitted signatures of Supreme Court decision as “bold”. excavation of riverbed materials and been levelled flat ing concerns against the exploitation Council of Ministers was taken by Oli as many as 149 lawmakers before the “Recent decisions, including deforestation,” said Saud. “Rivers and of the region that has led to the deple- to accommodate the Thakur-Mahato President on May 21. today’s, indicate that the Supreme streams have changed their courses in Kailali and tion of water sources. faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party. In his response to the court on June Court is not going to make any com- due to haphazard use of excavators “We could irrigate our paddy field The deal between Oli and Thakur 18, Oli, however, had argued that gov- promise on the constitution,” while extracting riverbed materials. Kanchanpur. as there was a canal before construct- itself was seen as a mysterious one by ernment formation was a political Adhikari, former dean of Kathmandu Forest resources are also depleting ing a road linking Dhanadi village of many as the two leaders were poles process and that the court could not University School of Law. “The court due to timber smuggling and forest Mohanyal-7 a few years ago. Several apart on many fronts. Oli is known as take a decision on such matters as that orders in the recent past make us fire incidents. Settlements near the “Two decades ago, most of the riv- landslides erupted in the area and a leader with his aversion to Madhesis was the prerogative of the President. believe that the court believes the House Chure region are at risk of landslide ers and streams were 10 to 15 metres buried the canal. We haven’t been able not hidden and Thakur is known as a Former Speaker Daman Nath dissolution is unconstitutional.” and flooding.” wide. But now, a majority of the rivers to irrigate our field,” said Dinesh leader who has championed the cause Dhungana said the Supreme Court The UML and the Thakur-Mahato Rabindra Kunwar, chairman of and streams are over 500 metres wide Gharti Magar of Mohanyal-7. of the Madhes and Madhesis. When has been correcting the mistakes faction have taken exception to the Chure Conservation Network, says in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.” The settlements below the Chure Madhes was burning in 2015, Oli was made by Oli and Tuesday’s order just court order, saying it interfered in haphazard extraction of riverbed Around 40 percent income of range have been facing a shortage of at the forefront of leading a campaign proves that. political matters. materials from the rivers and streams Lamkichuha, Bardigoriya, water in the recent years. to get the constitution promulgated at “But what course Nepali politics “The order is uncalled for. This is in the Chure foothills and forest fires Ghodaghodi, Gauriganga and “There is a shortage of drinking any cost, while Thakur was one of the will take is still uncertain,” Dhungana neither a caretaker nor a coalition have made the Chure region more Godawari—the local units of Kailali water in the foothills of Chure. The politicians leading the Tarai protests. told the Post. “We are living in extraor- government,” said Laxman Lal Karna vulnerable to disasters, especially district that border the Chure region— exploitation of Chure has greatly Oli, however, needed Thakur’s sup- dinary times. Most of the political from the Thakur-Mahato faction of during the monsoon season. comes from the contractors who affected the water recharge system in port. The Thakur faction never made issues that should have been settled at the Janata Samajbadi Party. “How can “Rivers and streams from extract construction aggregates from the area,” said Mohan Kunwar, the it clear how it benefited by supporting the political level are reaching the four ministers run the country rav- Brahmadev to Aattariya are being the local rivers and streams. chief engineer at the Drinking Water Oli, except saying the government had court.” aged by floods and landslides besides exploited for riverbed materials. Besides rampant extraction of sand Division Office in Kailali. agreed to address some of its demands Tuesday’s order leaves Oli’s Council the Covid-19 pandemic, with no home These activities have invited disas- and stones, haphazard construction of Likewise, the rampant extraction of on citizenship and constitutional of Ministers with just four members– and health ministers?” ters,” said Kunwar. roads using heavy equipment has also construction aggregates in the Chure Ajaya Bikram Manandhar, division affected the Chure region, say conser- region has been causing floods in the forest officer in Kanchanpur, said the vationists. southern part of Kailali district. local units’ decision to issue contracts Works are currently underway to Khutiya, Gauriganga, Pathariya, for extraction of riverbed materials open tracks at Sahajpur, Alad, Deurali, Kandhra and Kanda rivers that origi- Economic growth without setting up a proper monitor- Mauri, Chaumala, Phaltude and nate in the Chure region have been Mahakali embankment ing mechanism has led to the deple- Dhanera-Gajar areas of Mohanyal wreaking havoc in the southern part of tion of natural resources. and Chure rural municipalities. the district during the monsoon season. target unchanged ... “The local units do not think about Mohanyal Rural Municipality has “Floods and inundation have been a fortified at Khalanga the future and are only focused on five major road projects including major problem in Kailali, mainly due >> Continued from page 1 collecting revenue. There is no proper Khamadi-Simali, Phalse-Bisauna, to deforestation and haphazard extrac- “The growth target set for the next fiscal year is not monitoring and environmental impact Chisapani-Solta and Rajkanda- tion of riverbed materials in the impossible to achieve due to lower base effect,” said Min assessments are not prioritised by the Kushegada, which fall in the Chure Chure area. The soil erosion in Chure, Bahadur Shrestha, former vice-chairperson of the com- local governments,” said Ramchandra area. More than two dozen feeder risk of landslide, water sources dry- mission. “Even a meagre growth in the current fiscal Kandel, the forest officer at Division roads have also been constructed to ing up and flooding in Tarai area are year would be helpful to achieve next fiscal year’s growth Forest Office in Dhangadhi. link the settlements in the Chure caused by the exploitation of Chure target.” “The exploitation of the Chure region. region,” said Ramesh Chand, a retired But for that the situation has to normalise. region has a direct impact on the envi- Dozers and excavators are being district forest officer and expert on “If the situation normalises, achieving 6.5 percent ronment, causing disasters like floods used to build road networks in the forest and environment. growth next year is not difficult as just four percent growth is projected this fiscal year after a negative growth last fiscal year,” said Nepal However, targeting nearly double digit and double digit for the last two years of the current 15th Five-Year Plan would be hard to achieve, according to him. “The target set for another two years is virtually POST PHOTO: MANOJ BADU impossible because we won’t be spending resources for Water level in the river has been receding since Sunday. asset creation much in the next fiscal year for there to be an impact in the two years after that,” Shrestha said. MANOJ BADU Sudurpaschim Province. “Much of the resources will be spent on economic recov- DARCHULA, JUNE 22 Workers are preparing ery from the pandemic.” gabions with stones and Infrastructure development is a big priority of the Repair works on the using sand-filled sacks to government to achieve a high economic growth in the under-construction embank- increase the height of the 15th Plan but the budget for 2020-21 and 2021-22 has ment in Khalanga, the dis- embankments to prevent a focussed on the health sector and economic recovery. trict headquarters of flooding of the settlements, “Investment in the infrastructure sector helps to sus- Darchula, have begun to mit- said Paudel. tain economic growth,” said Shrestha. “But with the igate the risk of floods and The area from Ringetal to pandemic, the country has rightly focussed on health and inundation in the settle- Kailashpati Secondary economic recovery.” ments scattered along the School in Khalanga is at However, when the 15th Five-Year Plan was announced Mahakali riverbanks. high risk of floods from the in 2019, the government had set a high growth target as The river had hit the dan- Mahakali river. According to the country had achieved higher economic growth than ger level last week with its the project office, the river targeted during the 14th Five-Year Plan. depth measuring almost six has tremendous pressure in Even though the target of the 14th Plan was 7.2 percent, metres, according to the the Ringetal area as the cur- the average growth rate in the three years of the 14th Mahakali River Control rent has been diverted due to Plan (the 14th Plan was three years rather than the usual Project. The danger mark on landslides upriver. five) was 7.45 percent. the river is at six metres. “The river is narrow with According to Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, another for- Although the water level strong currents in the mer vice-chairperson of the commission, with the 7-8 started receding on Sunday Ringetal area. The water percent growth in normal times, proper implementation evening, officials at the river pressure can cause damage of the plan and efficiency in implementation of develop- control project say the threat downstream,” said Paudel. ment projects are imperative to achieve double digit of the river breaking its The authorities have growth. embankment is still high. rebuilt the embankments in “Even in the normal situation, achieving double digit “There was a danger of Khalanga swept away by the growth is a herculean task,” he said. “In the post Covid-19 floodwaters breaching the flooded Mahakali river in situation, it will be even harder.” embankment and entering 2013 to prevent floods in the Pokharel said that the government should have set the Khalanga area. We man- district headquarters but a realistic targets after the review of the 15th Plan and aged to prevent erosion in majority of settlements should stop making existing growth targets as the basis the Bangabagad area by along the Mahakali are pro- of various government plans in future. using gabions,” said tected only by temporary But the government has had a tendency of keeping Shovakar Paudel, chief at embankments. unrealistic targets for long. the project. The recently-constructed “The main reason behind keeping a high growth target “Immediate threat of embankments in Khalanga is to take credit for high economic growth if it happens,” floods and inundation has are still exposed to the dan- said Nepal, the former member of the commission. been averted for now but this gers of erosion in case of “Another reason is that the government aims to show a is just the beginning of the landslides in Khotila area of positive outlook to the general public and investors to monsoon season. We have to Dharchula, India. generate hope about economic performance. As a result stay prepared,” said Paudel. “Small landslides have of such an outlook potential investors would also be Incessant rainfall over the been reported from Khotila interested to invest.” past week had led to the area in the last few days,” On the other hand, the economic growth targets have swelling of the Mahakali said Paudel. hardly been met in most of the years. river that flows through According to the river con- “But nobody is held accountable for lower than expect- mountains, hills and the trol office, water level ed growth and such a trend invites questions about the Chure area from Dharchula measuring six metres spells credibility of the government,” said Nepal. to Kanchanpur in dange r.

C M Y K 03 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 NATIONAL BRIEFING Expecting mothers who need Manang’s Naso Rural 35 people test positive for Covid-19 after attending Municipality setting wedding feast Caesarean delivery are at risk BAGLUNG: Thirty-five individuals, who attended a wedding feast in up temporary office at Kholakhet Tol, Ward No. 3 of Baglung Municipality two weeks ago, tested in flood-ravaged Helambu positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. According to the municipality, PCR tests on 50 individuals were per- Government has a helicopter rescue programme to prevent maternal deaths, Besisahar after flood formed after many individuals showed Covid-19 related symptoms in but health workers say the process is caught up in red tape. the settlement. Ram Prasad Khanal, Dharapani, the administrative headquarters of the rural chief at the Health Unit of the munic- ipality, said, “The municipality is pre- ARJUN POUDEL are either in their teens or at the Helambu. It is the same for other municipality, was badly damaged by the flooded paring to seal the area after finding KATHMANDU, JUNE 22 advanced maternal age(over 35 years remote places of the country. Covid-19 infection in the whole old), whose due dates are within “The name ‘President’s Women Marsyangdi river in the second week of June. settlement.” Seventeen-year-old Chandra Tamang mid-July. Uplift Programme’ under which the (name changed), a resident of As teen pregnancy and pregnancy helicopter rescue programme is oper- Helambu Rural Municipality-2 of in advanced maternal age can be risky ated sounds fantastic, but it is too Bagmati government to provide Sindhupalchok, is expecting her first for both mother and the baby, health complicated in practice,” Kiran Rs50 million in flood relief child in the first week of July. officials have advised these women to Regmi, a former health secretary, told Her due date is July 6 and she has visit Kathmandu before the due date, the Post. “It is not easy to get the heli- HETAUDA: The Bagmati provincial been advised by the doctor at her local so that they could give birth under copter rescue. Authorities should government has decided to provide health facility to go to Kathmandu for professional care, in facilities that are make the process simple to save the Rs50 million to the flood and land- delivery. well equipped. lives of mothers and their babies.” slide-affected districts in the prov- “Since she is underage, it will be But the problem is that all women The Ministry of Women, Children ince. A meeting of the Provincial riskier for her to give birth at the local cannot afford to go to Kathmandu and Social Welfare, which runs the Disaster Management Directorate health facility, which is ill equipped immediately. helicopter rescue programme, said on Monday decided to provide and lacks trained health workers,” “Ambulance cannot come here that 87 women suffering maternity-re- Rs10 million to the district natural Gyanendra Sigdel, health coordinator because our village has been com- lated complications have been rescued disaster management committee of of Helambu Rural Municipality, told pletely isolated after the recent flood- since the start of the current fiscal Sindhupalchok and Rs5 million each the Post over the phone. “It will be ing,” said Sigdel. “The ambulance year. to the water resources and irrigation difficult to send her to Kathmandu operated by the local government is “We are not aware of the condition development division offices of immediately in case she has to under- stuck at the office due to damaged in Helambu. But if the chief district Sindhupalchok, Chitwan and Rasuwa go a Caesarean section.” roads.” officer of the district where the pro- districts. The meeting also decided Nepal has already missed the 2020 The government has been promot- gramme is being implemented to issue Rs2.5 million each to the target of reducing maternal mortality ing institutional delivery to prevent requests for the service, we will pro- water resources and irrigation to 125 per 100,000 live births from the such complications, with the govern- vide the service,”Goma Devi Dhakal, development division offices of current rate of 239 deaths per 100,000 ment making delivery services free at under secretary at the ministry, told Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, live births. state-run health facilities. the Post. “Some process has to be fol- Kavre, Dolakha, Ramechhap, The ongoing pandemic has made For pregnant women residing in lowed and recommendation of the Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Dhading and things worse, health experts say. remote villages, the government has chief district officer is the best for the Nuwakot districts. Moreover, the recent flooding and been running a helicopter rescue pro- service.” landslide, which caused huge damage gramme in some local units and Health workers serving in the to roads and other infrastructure, wards. The service is also available in remote villages, however, say that the Permits issued to collect pose additional risk to the lives of Helambu. government should get rid of the red Yarchagumba in Darchula pregnant women and new mothers. Health workers, however, say that it tape and set up a mechanism at the DARCHULA: Api Nampa Conservation Helambu is one of the worst hit will be too late if a pregnant woman centre to run emergency rescue ser- Area Office in Darchula started areas of Sindhupalchok from the whose condition is complicated has to vice for pregnant women issuing permits to collect Yarcha- recent flooding that killed dozens of wait for a helicopter rescue, a process “After all, the goal of the govern- gumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) people and displaced more than 1,000 which is caught up in red tape. ment programme is saving lives,” said POST PHOTO: AASH GURUNG in high altitude areas of the district. others. At least seven people lost their “We have to inform the chief of the Sigdel, the health coordinator of The Marsyangdi river flood has also displaced 50 families at Dharapani. According to Santa Bahadur Magar, lives and more than 400 others lost district health office first, who in turn Helambu. the information officer at the office, their homes in Helambu. has to inform the chief district officer. The National Demographic Health AASH GURUNG Hom Prasad Luitel said efforts are on the conservation area is issuing Road connectivity in Helambu has The latter then will have to write a Survey 2016 shows that 21 babies in LAMJUNG, JUNE 22 to manage a government building to permits to collect the highly prized also been disrupted after floods swept letter to officials at the Ministry of every 1,000 live births die within one be used as the office of Naso Rural caterpillar fungus between June 18 away several motorable bridges. Women, Children and Social Welfare,” month. Naso Rural Municipality in Manang Municipality, said Luitel. and July 9 as per the decision of the Eighteen years old Rita Tamang, a paramedic serving at Helambu The survey also shows for every has decided to establish a temporary Between June 14 and June 15, the District Covid-19 Crisis Management also from Helambu, is expecting her explained the process for helicopter 100,000 births, 229 women die during office at Besisahar of Lamjung dis- flooded Marsyangdi river had swept Centre. The centre had earlier banned first baby next week. Like Chandra, rescue service. “Officials at the minis- or after childbirth. Nepal had previ- trict after Dharapani, the administra- away the office building of Naso Rural Yarchagumba collection as a measure she too has been advised by the doctor try then have to forward the letter to ously reduced the maternal mortality tive centre of the rural municipality, Municipality, offices of Prabhu Bank, to contain the spread of Covid-19 in in her village to go to a hospital in the Nepal Army and request for an rate from 539 in 1996 to 239 in 2016—for was hit by the June 15 Marsyangdi Prime Commercial Bank, border the high altitude areas of the district, Kathmandu for delivery. airlift service.” which the country received the river flooding that also swept away the police post, a few hotels and 10 houses where access to healthcare service Along with Chandra and Rita, there Maternal health experts say that Millennium Development Goal award. office of the rural municipality. at Dharapani. is very poor. are six other expecting women, who the issue is not just limited to On Monday, an executive meeting of According to chief administrative the rural municipality decided to officer Regmi, he, along with 14 other operate the temporary office from employees, spent the night in a cave Besisahar. According to the rural nearby after the floods wreaked havoc municipal office, the temporary office on June 14. has to be set up at Besisahar to operate “We managed to escape and sur- day-to-day administrative work in vived. All the goods and documents of emergency situations. the office were swept away,” said Bishwa Bandhu Regmi, chief Regmi. administrative officer of the rural Government employees and the municipality, said, “Around 200 people local people are now taking shelter at from more than 50 families have been Odar village. The floods and land- displaced from Naso Rural slides triggered by heavy rains swept Municipality. Chame road and elec- away roads and foot trails connecting tricity supply have also been damaged one village to another and one ward to by the floods. Besisahar is only the another. appropriate location to resume admin- “The victims somehow managed to istrative work as it also has banks.” reach Odar but now they are cut off Govinda Bahadur Ranabhat, the from other villages. The relief materi- senior programme officer of the rural als sent earlier by the rural municipal- municipality, said, “The fiscal year is ity are not sufficient,” he said. ending soon and there is a backlog of Naso Rural Municipality has decid- administrative work. That’s why we ed to provide 15 sacks of rice and two have to run a temporary office imme- sacks of salt each to the affected diately.” wards. An additional sack of rice has On Tuesday, some employees of the been provided to a completely dis- rural municipality, who were stuck at placed household. Naso Rural Municipality, returned to The local unit said it does not have Besisahar by taking a free ride in a the resources to provide relief to all helicopter that had reached Naso to the displaced people and has sought distribute relief. help from district and provincial According to Ranabhat, there’s cur- authorities. rently no condition to operate an “We don’t expect transportation to office in Dharapani, where 10 families resume any time soon given the have been displaced so far. condition of the roads,” said According to Bishnu Lamichhane, Regmi. “We haven’t been able to the chief district officer of Manang, reach out to all the displaced people. Dharapani area is still at risk of more The higher authorities must act POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI monsoon-induced disasters. fast to avert any health emergencies Workers unload cement sacks from a truck at Balkhu, Kathmandu on Tuesday. Chief District Office of Lamjung in the villages.” Kathmandu’s street vendors find no respite despite loosening of lockdown

ANUP OJHA “Today was the first day my son and livestock. After that we left the village The city authorities have long KATHMANDU, JUNE 22 I came here for business. But the City and have been selling clothes on the regarded street vendors as a nuisance. police chased us,” said Thapa, who is streets,” said Thapa. Over a decade there have been many Indrachowk, Kathmandu’s most also a mother of two daughters aged Like Thapa, hundreds of street ven- recommendations and promises crowded and noisiest shopping area 13 and 21. She said she had thought dors have lost their means of liveli- authorities have made to relocate the that had remained eerily silent for they would be able to start street vend- hood to the Covid-19 restrictions. street vendors, but that has not been nearly two months due to the prohibi- ing with the easing of restrictions, but Although the administrations of successful yet. tory orders since April 29, came to life she was wrong. the three districts of the Kathmandu A decade ago, the government had on Tuesday after the easing of various According to the City Police Chief Valley on Sunday decided to ease formed a committee to relocate the restrictions. The prohibitory orders in Dhanapati Sapkota, on Tuesday they many of the lockdown restrictions street vendors from the Khula Manch, the three districts of the Kathmandu seized goods of half a dozen street allowing most shops to reopen albeit Tinkune, Kalanki and Balaju areas. Valley were loosened after 52 days vendors from the New Road and only for a few hours daily and vehicles The committee’s recommendations amid slowing down of Covid-19 cases. Indrachowk area because street vend- to operate on the basis of odd-even were not implemented and street ven- From early morning, the ing is still restricted. “From number rule, they have continued the dors continued to ply their businesses Indrachowk crossroads was full of Wednesday onwards we will be strict- ban on roadside vending. wherever they found convenient, pref- street vendors—over two dozen of er against illegal street vending,” said “Street vendors are among those erably at places that saw high footfall. them selling food, vegetables, clothes, Sapkota. He said the City Police will most affected by the lockdown, Then in 2014, Bamdev Gautam, the kitchen utensils and other household patrol the streets from 7am to 7pm because they need to work every day home minister at the time, issued an items—and shoppers and joggers. every day. for survival and most of them have order to evict all street vendors, but Laxmi Thapa, 43, and her nine-year- Meanwhile, Thapa said her family already run out of their savings,” said the latter refused to give in. old son Dilip were shouting at the has lost all their savings after the Raj Kumar Shrestha, deputy general Kathmandu Mayor Bidya Sundar passing pedestrians to buy their whole family came down with Covid- secretary at Nepal Street Vendors’ Shakya after his election in 2017 had wares. The mother and son sell socks 19 in the first week of April. “After Trade Union, which has 10,000 mem- promised to solve the problem of and ladies’ undergarments. three weeks we recovered. Life is get- bers. street vending with better relocation She said her husband was at home ting more and more difficult so I came He said the Union is planning to POST FILE PHOTO options, but he has done nothing preparing the morning meal. here today hoping to earn some money visit the District Administration Authorities have long regarded street vendors as nuisance. towards this end. Then suddenly a police siren but they are chasing us as if we are Office and the Kathmandu “We have visited the mayor’s office screamed at a distance and the ven- criminals,” said Thapa, whose family Metropolitan City this week asking The union estimates there are his office will look into this issue on numerous occasions with memo- dors ran helter skelter clutching their came to Kathmandu after the 2015 them to lift the ban on street vending. around 30,000 street vendors in the again. “We thought street vendors randa, but he does not listen to us,” wares. When the white truck full of earthquake flattened their house in “It seems like the government is Valley. would cause crowding in the street said union secretary Shrestha. “He municipal police finally arrived at the Sindhupalchok. only concerned about the well-being When the Post contacted the chief which is not good in the time of the ignores us because we are poor and scene, the crossroads was already “We didn’t have much land back in of big businesses and rich people and district officer of Kathmandu Kali pandemic, but we will discuss the not city residents and have no voting clear of street vendors as most of the village. We became homeless after ignores the poor,” complained Prasad Parajuli and asked about the issue further and see what can be rights. This is a sick mentality,” said them fled to the back alleys. the earthquake, which also killed our Shrestha. concerns of the street vendors, he said done,” said Parajuli. Shrestha.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Saffronisation of the body politic Washed out Oli wants to be the republican inheritor of Hindu rule, by Officials still make it a point to begin work at the mingling royalist yellow with last minute in the thick of the monsoon. Marxist-Leninist red.

It’s a wonder why the term Asarey vikas is still not in the Nepali Brihat Shabdkosh yet. After all, last-minute capital expenditure CK LAL has long defined our development tragedy. SOUTH SIDE Asar (mid-June to mid-July) is arguably the least suitable month for infrastructure development. In the thick of the mon- soon, many people building new infrastructures, including personal homes, halt work because it is nearly impossible to finish a day’s work without the fear of rain looming large. The The constitutional free fall in the coun- try continues unabated. Supremo KP same should be the case with public infrastructure develop- Sharma Oli initiated the free-for-all as ment. It is common sense that hydroelectric projects, irrigation soon as he took the reins of govern- channels, airports, roads, transmission lines and bridges can- ment in February 2018 by concentrat- ing unprecedented authority in his sec- not be built effectively and efficiently in the middle of the rainy retariat. Instructions began to flow season. But public officials still make it a point to begin work directly to the senior administrators. only at the last minute—the last month of the fiscal year, to be Whenever a cabinet colleague dared to assert, the Prime Minister reshuffled exact. them like a pack of cards. PHOTO COURTESY: KPSHARMAOLI.COM.NP This year, too, the government continued to be lethargic in Oli had already packed various con- inside. Such a humiliation of the lead- cal putrefaction and the administrative constitution to restore the dignity of capital expenditure in the first half of the fiscal year, resulting stitutional organs with his loyalists er of the opposition along with over a corrosion in the middle of a pandemic Dalits, Muslims and traditionally during his first term in office in 2015 hundred MPs was unprecedented in appear baffling: how can every organ beef-eating Janajatis. The concept was in increased pressure in the second half to finish it up. Needless and through his party’s share of the parliamentary history. of the state become simultaneously promptly undermined by authorising to say, capital spending falls short of its target, leaving the coun- division of spoils with the Nepali The constitutionality of the political dysfunctional? However, those in the the state to protect and promote sana- try’s development plans in tatters. As if to honour the long-held Congress. When it appeared that the mayhem, apparently wrought by rival know hold that there is a method in the tan traditions, which is a politically Parliament may come into the way of claimants of leadership, has ended up madness of constitutional organs act- correct term for ‘Asal Hindustan’ of tradition of delayed capital expenditure, government agencies his autocratic ambitions, he fast- in the Supreme Court once again. ing at seemingly cross-purposes. King Prithvi’s imagination. are now on a spending spree. For the current fiscal year, which tracked two ordinances—one to split Subversion of the constitutional After seizing power through the Kot has a capital expenditure budget of Rs352 billion, the govern- the political party and another to use Harmonious disarray order and institutionalisation of Massacre, Jung Bahadur strengthened the Constitutional Council at will. A After dissolving the House twice at the Hindutva polity appears to be the com- the ‘Hinduisation’ project of Gorkhalis ment had spent only Rs150 billion, or 42 percent, as of the third controversial attempt to ‘abduct’ an MP recommendation of an embattled mon goal of all important players. The by codifying the caste hierarchy and week of June. was also made to strengthen the legisla- prime minister, President Bidhya Devi Supremo wants constitutional con- odious practices of the time through In the fiscal year 2019-20, the government’s capital expendi- tive position of the chief executive. Bhandari probably feels that it’s now straints out of the way to remain prime the Muluki Ain (laws of the land), prac- Once Supremo Sharma Oli realised her turn to assert the authority of the minister for life and is ready to tear the tising patia (atonement) rituals and ture shot up by 15 percent within the last month. While capital that even a subservient Parliament Head of State. Her office told the statute that has helped him reach patronising priests and precepts. expenditure stood at 30 percent until June 10, it had reached 47 could come into the way of his execu- Supreme Court that the President where he now stands. He is ready to The deep religiosity of Ranaudip percent by July 15. In the fiscal year 2018-19, capital expenditure tive unruliness, he started to under- holds the right to determine whether advance the ‘saffronisation’ agenda Singh couldn’t protect him from being mine its sovereignty. His recommenda- the prime minister had the support of and retreat from the position of weap- killed by his less religious nephews, but stood at only 4.41 percent of the allocated budget by the end of tion for the abrupt dissolution of the the House and the judiciary had no onisation of the goat-tailed map. the main beneficiary of the coup d’état the first quarter. By the end of the fiscal year, capital expendi- House in December 2020 was meant to authority to overturn her decision. Ever since an extra-constitutional was Chandra Shamsher. During his long ture had reached 79.74 percent of the budget allocated, having subvert the constitution and prevent With the exception of the Katuwal arrangement elevated the chief justice reign, Chandra cultivated Hindu holy- Parliament from electing a new leader. Kanda when President Ram Baran to the post of prime minister, ambi- men to keep the mandate of heaven spent a whopping Rs108 billion in the last month alone. The Constitutional Bench of the Yadav had overturned Prime Minister tions of former and serving judges upon himself and engaged pandits of The story of low capital spending for much of the year and a Supreme Court recognised the conceit Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s decision to dis- have become more material than moral. Varanasi to advance his interests. sudden rush in the last couple of months goes on and on. To end and annulled the presidential order of miss the army chief for insubordina- After all, it’s humane to wish for politi- Mahendra followed in the footsteps dissolving the House. tion, the office of the Head of State in cal authority when the very existence of his illustrious predecessors and this malpractice, the constitution has a provision requiring the Oli’s political recklessness has Nepal has adhered to the parliamenta- of the legislature and the legitimacy of advanced the Hindutva agenda to the government to present the budget six weeks before the new fis- resulted in the erosion of the suprema- ry tradition and confined itself to cere- the executive depends upon the deci- applause of the Rashtriya cy of Parliament. The Supreme Court sions of the judiciary. Swayamsevak Sangh. Through a net- cal year. Although the budget does get presented as scheduled, monial duties. used its supreme authority to quash It seems President Bhandari desires a Once de-politicisation of governance work of seers, sages and royal relatives its implementation is a different ball game altogether. Last year, the unification of the Communist greater role in the power vacuum that takes place, de-secularisation will auto- spread out in the Indian subcontinent, the Ministry of Finance, in its budget implementation guide- Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist has resulted from the repeated dissolu- matically follow. Religion is the default the Shah-Rana clan has always main- Leninist and the Communist Party of tion of the House. When she has to fast position of all ‘nationalist’ rulers in tained close links to militant elements lines, made it clear that the contracts were to be completed by Nepal (Maoist Centre). Calculations of track ordinances that have little chance every traditional society. of Hindutva politics. mid-October and work to be begun within 15 days of the award- aspirants of premiership turned top- of parliamentary endorsement within Supremo Sharma Oli wants to be the ing of the contract. But that was not to be. The result is for all to sy-turvy thereafter. the stipulated timeframe, perhaps she is Hindu homeland republican inheritor of Hindu rulers by The combustible combination of correct in taking the initiative of writ- The idea of secularism is a novelty in mingling royalist yellow with Marxist- see: Unspent budget and questionable quality of work. unbridled ambition and resentful reck- ing routine request letters to foreign Nepal and it made into the political Leninist red to use the saffronisation This trend has to stop once and for all. Government agencies lessness made Oli take the oath of heads of state and chief executives. vocabulary fairly recently. The ‘world’s template in Nepal. The consequences should stop wasting the first half of the fiscal year only devis- office for the second time in his second The Supreme Court asserts its only Hindu’ description stayed with the for the inherently plural and diverse term and have Parliament dissolved supremacy whenever it deems fit to name for as long as the country was a society of the country could be grave ing plans and procurement procedures as if they have all the once again in a suspense-filled mid- overrule executive decisions. It rein- kingdom. and unsettling, but the ruling elite time in the world. Rather, they should begin work right away. night drama. stated Parliament. Its decision annulled Ideologically speaking, Marxist, seems to be ready to go to any extent to Authorities in the capital expenditure chain, ranging from According to some parliamentarians the unification of two political parties. Leninist and Maoists are atheists by advance Khas-Arya hegemony. that had gone to the Presidential Palace It has stayed the citizenship ordinance. definition and they hardly need the In Mahantha Thakur and his follow- those in the line ministries to those at the local level, should to support the claim of the leader of Meanwhile, hearings on several other bourgeois respectability of secularity. ers, the Hindutva lobby has succeeded work in tandem so that there is no unreasonable hurdle in get- the opposition, Sher Bahadur Deuba, ordinances, including on the all-impor- The comfortable class is more comfort- in enlisting Madhesi collaborators for ting the work done as per the existing rules and regulations. for the leadership of the House, their tant constitutional council amend- able with freedom of religion than with the ethnicisation of the Hindu religion. delegation was forced to wait at the ment, is still awaited. the idea of secularism. Even if Supremo Sharma Oli loses one The government’s development strategy is only as good as the main gate and made to stand in the On the face of it, the legal decompo- Even though only in name, secular- more battle, he is winning the war of fiscal responsibility government authorities exhibit. hallway to make their case once allowed sition, the diplomatic decay, the politi- ism made its way into the controversial dividing Nepal forever. The last thing this century needs

global recognition has come. Given In today’s world, we the scale of the Chinese market and the economic interdependencies it simply cannot afford engenders, the idea that China can be isolated is absurd. another clash of mutually But perhaps the issue is more about power than economics. Who will be exclusive systems. the twenty-first century’s hegemon? By uniting with the rest of the West, can the US really change the historical JOSCHKA FISCHER trajectory of China’s rise and the West’s relative decline? I doubt it. The West’s recognition that China will not become more democratic by dint of its economic development and integration into the global economy is necessary and long past due. Greed kept that fantasy afloat for far too long. This month’s G7 summit seemed to But I will venture a prediction that confirm what has long been apparent: the twenty-first century will not pri- The United States and China are marily be characterized by a return to entering into a cold war similar to the great-power politics at all, even if that one between the US and the Soviet looks where things are headed now. Union in the second half of the twen- The experience of the pandemic forc- tieth century. es us to take a longer and wider view. The West no longer views China COVID-19 was a mere prelude to the just as a competitor and rival but as a looming climate crisis, a global chal- civilisational alternative. Once again, lenge that will force the great powers the conflict seems to be about mutual- to embrace cooperation for the sake of ly exclusive ‘systems.’ Amid an esca- humankind, regardless of who is lating clash of values and competing ‘Number One.’ claims to global power and leadership, For the first time ever, the pandemic a military confrontation—or at least a has made ‘humankind’ more than an new arms race—seems to have become abstraction, turning that concept into a distinct possibility. a material field for action. Containing But on closer examination, the Cold the coronavirus and sparing everyone War comparison is misleading. The from the threat of dangerous new var- systemic rivalry between the US and iants will require more than eight bil- the Soviet Union was preceded by one lion vaccine doses. Assuming that of the most brutal and catastrophic global warming and the overburden- ‘hot’ wars in history, and reflected the ing of regional and global ecosystems frontlines of that conflict. continue apace, this same global field Though the US and the Soviet Union of action will become the dominant were the principal victors after the SHUTTERSTOCK one in the twenty-first century. German and Japanese surrenders, At the same time, the dawn of the Though the Communist Party of stands at the top of this ‘Market- same as in the Cold War, what should In this context, the question of who they had already been ideological foes nuclear age had fundamentally disrupt- China calls the country ‘socialist’ to Leninist’ model. a Cold War II really be about? Is the is on top will be decided not through before the war. If Hitler’s Germany ed power politics by making any future justify its political monopoly, no one The Chinese system’s hybrid char- goal to force China to become more traditional great-power politics, but and imperial Japan had not both war for global hegemony impossible takes that label seriously. China does acter is what accounts for its success. Western and democratic? Or is it sim- by which powers step up to provide sought world domination through mil- without self-annihilation. Mutually not define its difference from the West China is on track to surpass the US ply to contain China’s power and iso- the leadership and competence that itary conquest, the US and the Soviet assured destruction kept the superpow- according to its position on private both technologically and economical- late it technologically (or, at a mini- the situation demands. Unlike in the Union never would have been allies. er confrontation ‘cold,’ even as it threat- property; rather, it simply does and ly by around 2030—a feat that the mum, slow down its ascent)? And if past, a cold war would hasten, not pre- As soon as the war was over, the ened all of humankind with nuclear says whatever is necessary to main- Soviet Union never had a chance of the West were to achieve any of these vent, mutually assured destruction. faceoff between Soviet communism catastrophe. If the Soviet Union and the tain one-party rule. Since Deng accomplishing at any point in its objectives, what then? and Western democratic capitalism Warsaw Pact had not collapsed four Xiaoping’s reforms in the late 1970s, 70-year history. China’s ‘Billionaire In fact, none of these objectives Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister resumed, their enmity intensified by decades later, the conflict presumably China has established a hybrid model Socialism’ is clearly better equipped could ever be satisfied at a reasonable and vice-chancellor from 1998 to 2005, the brutality of forced Sovietisation in would have dragged on indefinitely. that accommodates both markets and to compete with the West than the old cost for the parties involved. China is was a leader of the German Green Central and Eastern Europe between The situation between the West and central planning, and both state and Soviet system ever was. home to 1.4 billion people who can see Party for almost 20 years. 1945 and 1948. China today is totally different. private ownership. The CPC alone If today’s systemic rivalry isn’t the that their historic opportunity for — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Dollar edges US 119.29 Government allows limited domestic Euro 141.79 higher before Pound 165.47 Australian 89.48 flights to resume after nearly two months Powell’s Japanese 10.8 Chinese 18.42 The Cabinet has decided to open up a number of international sectors for the convenience of Nepali migrant workers. testimony Saudi 31.81 SANGAM PRASAIN REUTERS Qatari 32.75 KATHMANDU, JUNE 22 NEW YORK, JUNE 22

Malaysian 28.67 The government has freed domestic The dollar edged higher on Tuesday Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank airlines to operate half the number before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome of flights they were conducting Powell will testify before Congress, before Covid, and opened up several with investors anxious to see whether Shares international routes as it moved to Powell pushes back against the view loosen the lockdown and get the that the Fed is likely to raise rates Nepse 2,913.84pts 2.80% economy moving. sooner than previously expected as On Monday, the Cabinet decided to inflation rises. HIGHEST GAINERS lift the virus restrictions that had kept The dollar has surged since the US NGPL HIDCL PMHPL JFL BARUN RADHI 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 9.99% the country paralysed for nearly two central bank on Wednesday said that months following a drop in the case- policymakers are forecasting two rate MODERATE GAINERS load, officials said. NRN MPFL UMRH CORBL SJCL MFIL hikes in 2023. That led investors to 7.26% 7.07% 6.92% 6.87% 6.75% 6.49% “We have received a copy of the re-evaluate bets that the US central

MODERATE LOSERS Cabinet decision. We will hold discus- bank will let inflation run at higher RURU ACLBSL NICBF NLBBL SLBS SABSL sions on this matter on Wednesday to levels for a longer time before hiking -0.31% -0.20% -0.15% -0.06% -0.06% -0.06% fix the operation date,” Tourism Joint rates. “I think today Powell is going to HIGHEST LOSERS Secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane be able to reset his message,” said EICPO SBLD2082 NICD83/84 GUFL KEF LEMF told the Post. Edward Moya, senior market analyst -3.05% -2% -1.96% -1.59% -1.44% -1.41% According to officials, domestic ser- at OANDA in New York. vices may resume from Sunday. “Investors want to get a better view “The decision to increase flight fre- to see whether or not Powell does pull quencies and open suspended routes back a little bit of that extra hawkish- PRICE PER TOLA will also facilitate the movement of ness that we got last week.” BULLION Nepali migrant workers,” said The dollar index gained 0.11 percent Lamichhane, who looks after aviation POST FILE PHOTO to 91.998, but is holding below a two- Fine Gold Rs 91,000 affairs at the Tourism Ministry. Airline operators say limiting frequencies to 50 percent of normal level will reduce crowds at the airports, an essential pandemic measure. month high of 92.408 reached on The Foreign Employment Board Friday. The euro fell 0.09 percent to Silver Rs 1,300 said the exact number of Nepali work- minutes between flights, thus reduc- unchanged. Chinese cities. According to the cabi- $1.1906 and the dollar gained 0.30 per- ers stuck abroad was not known, but it ing crowds at the airports. During The Cabinet has decided to open up net decision, Nepali and Chinese car- cent to 110.69 Japanese yen. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA is estimated that 1,500-2,000 persons normal times, a domestic flight takes a number of sectors for the conveni- riers will conduct one flight each on Powell has said that he wants to see are waiting to return home from each off every two minutes. ence of Nepali migrant workers. the Kathmandu-Chengdu route. further progress in employment of the popular labour destination “Like during last year’s lockdown, According to Monday’s decision, Similarly, two extra flights have before tightening policy. He said in GASOLINE WATCH countries. we are committed to abiding by the four weekly flights have been allowed been approved on the Kathmandu- prepared remarks released on Monday They are mostly those workers government’s strict health safety pro- on the Kathmandu-Dubai-Kathmandu Guangzhou sector, Nepali and Chinese that the economy continues to show whose contracts or visas have expired, tocols,” said Basnet. sector, two for Nepali carriers and two airlines operating one flight each. “sustained improvement” from the according to the board, the govern- Except for two weekly flights on the for carriers in Dubai. Likewise, four The prohibitory orders in place in coronavirus pandemic and ongoing ment agency responsible for looking Kathmandu-Delhi sector, Nepal decid- weekly flights have been approved on the three districts of Kathmandu job market gains, but inflation has after the welfare of migrant workers. ed to halt all domestic flights from the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route, Valley since April 29 have been extend- “increased notably in recent months.” More flights will also help to bring midnight of May 3, and all interna- Nepali and Malaysian carriers operat- ed till June 28 with a slight relaxation Powell did not go into detail on the back the bodies of dead migrant work- tional flights from midnight of May 6 ing two services each. of the restrictions—automobiles will possibility the US central bank may ers that have remained piled up in as the virus looked like spreading out Two flights have been allowed on be allowed on the streets according to have to speed up its plans to pull back many destination countries. of control. The Cabinet has permitted the Kathmandu-Dammam sector for the odd-even number rule, and busi- on some support for the economy According to board officials, around two extra flights on the Kathmandu- Nepali carriers and two flights have nesses will be permitted to operate on because of the faster rise in prices. 70 to 80 bodies of Nepali workers are Doha-Kathmandu route—two for been permitted on the Kathmandu- alternate days. Some analysts have also speculated stranded in different destination Nepal Airlines and two for airlines Kuwait City route for airlines of A meeting of the valley’s three that the rate hike forecasts may reflect countries, although some bodies have based in Qatar—for a total of four Kuwait. chief district officers on Sunday the views of more hawkish non-voting been repatriated after the resumption weekly flights. Likewise, one flight a week has been announced the decision to loosen up Fed members and not the core group of limited flights. The frequency on the Kathmandu- approved for airlines on the Oman- the lockdown rules starting Tuesday, of dovish Fed policymakers that dom- Birendra Bahadur Basnet, manag- Istanbul route has been increased by Kathmandu sector, and one weekly considering the declining cases of inate policy. ing director of Buddha Air, Nepal’s one flight to two weekly. Turkish flight has been permitted for South Covid-19 infections. The debate over when and how the leading private airline, welcomed the Airlines, the only carrier connecting Korean carriers on the Seoul- Nepal on Tuesday reported 3,703 Federal Reserve could begin to reduce government decision saying that the Nepal and Europe, will be operating Kathmandu route. new coronavirus cases in the last 24 some of its massive stimulus for the resumption of flights would boost the two services, said Lamichhane. According to Lamichhane, Nepal hours, taking the nationwide infection economy was on display on Monday, business confidence. The two flights on the Kathmandu- Airlines has been permitted to fly tally to 626,343. as two US central bank officials According to him, limiting frequen- New Delhi route, one for Nepal once a week on the Kathmandu-Tokyo Similarly, 819 people tested positive explained their support for an earlier cies to 50 percent of pre-Covid levels Airlines and one for Air India under sector. in a total of 4,709 antigen tests, accord- withdrawal and a third said any will allow an interval of more than 10 an air bubble arrangement, remain Nepal has allowed services to two ing to the Health Ministry. change was still quite a ways away. Iran seizes 7,000 UK pushes talks on trans-Pacific partnership Lebanon again raises price of cryptocurrency ASSOCIATED PRESS growing influence on the world stage engaged from the safety of London, BANGKOK, JUNE 22 that was recommended by a recent even in a pandemic you have to com- bread amid crippling crisis British government review of defence mit to face time in the region,” he computer The UK launched negotiations and foreign policy. said. Beyond trade, ASSOCIATED PRESS its value, breaking a record low earlier Tuesday to join a trans-Pacific trade “The UK is committed to strength- Britain earlier this year dispatched BEIRUT, JUNE 22 this month of 15,500 Lebanese pounds bloc as it looks to explore new oppor- ening our friendship across the Indo- a strike group led by the Royal Navy’s to the dollar on the black market. miners, largest tunities following its departure from Pacific,” Raab said ahead of the trip. flagship carrier the HMS Queen Lebanon’s economy ministry on The official exchange rate remains the European Union and strengthen “We are demonstrating this through Elizabeth on a 28-week deployment to Tuesday raised the price of subsidised 1,507 pounds to the dollar. haul to date its strategic interests in Asia. our commitment to join CPTPP, part- Asia. It is also expected to announce bread for the fifth time in a year as the The World Bank said in a report The start of talks to join the ner with ASEAN and invest more the forward deployment of smaller country’s multiple crises worsen with this month that Lebanon’s gross REUTERS Comprehensive and Progressive energy, time and effort in our bilateral vessels to the Indo-Pacific. no resolution in sight. domestic product is projected to con- DUBAI, JUNE 22 Agreement for Trans-Pacific relations in the region.” “That would be noticed in the The ministry said the reason behind tract 9.5 percent in 2021, after shrink- Partnership, made up of 11 counties The push comes as the region’s region,” he said. “It won’t change the the latest increase—an 18 percent hike ing by 20.3 percent in 2020 and 6.7 per- Iranian police have seized 7,000 com- with a combined half billion people, countries are looking for “options and balance of power, but it does demon- from the last raise in February—was cent the year before. The central bank puter miners at an illegal cryptocur- came as Foreign Secretary Dominic alternatives” to China as their main strate to China and others that this is the central bank’s ending of sugar has been cutting back on financing rency farm, their largest haul to date Raab met with his counterpart and source of capital and trading opportu- not only a US-China bilateral dynam- subsidies, which in turn adds to the imports at subsidized dollars, as for- of the energy-guzzling machines that other Vietnamese officials during a nities, said Euan Graham, senior fel- ic,” Whether the diplomatic, economic cost of bread production. eign currency reserves have dropped have exacerbated power outages in visit to Southeast Asia. low for Asia-Pacific security with the and military outreach will succeed, Lebanon is grappling with the worst dangerously low, from $30 billion at Iran, state media reported on Tuesday. Britain is also looking to attain International Institute for Strategic however, will take time. economic and financial crisis in its the start of the crisis in late 2019, to In late May, Iran banned the mining “dialogue partnership” status with Studies’ office in Singapore. “I think they can maintain their modern history—one that the World nearly $15 billion currently. That has of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin the 10-country Association of For Britain to be taken seriously it ambitions over a four-year timeframe, Bank has said is likely to rank as one prompted merchants to either raise for nearly four months as part of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, needs to show that it’s prepared to be and that might be enough to develop of the worst the world has seen in the prices or stop imports. Most Lebanese efforts to reduce the incidence of as it pursues a “tilt” toward the Indo- engaged for the long-term, he said. the momentum that they need,” past 150 years. have seen their purchase power drop power blackouts blamed by officials Pacific region in response to China’s “It’s no good just saying you’re Graham said. The currency has lost 90 percent of and savings evaporate. on surging electricity demand during the searingly hot and dry summer. Tehran police chief General Hossein Rahimi said the 7,000 comput- er miners were seized in an aban- doned factory in the west of the capi- California restaurant owners face labour crisis amid reopening tal, the state news agency IRNA reported. ASSOCIATED PRESS during the early months of the pan- Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies LOS ANGELES, JUNE 22 demic. are created through a process known But in the state’s battered restau- as mining, where powerful computers Sherry Villanueva’s family of Santa rant industry, the return toward nor- compete with each other to solve com- Barbara restaurants employed 350 malcy is being slowed by the struggle plex mathematical problems. The people before the pandemic took hold to find an adequate number of cooks, process is highly energy-intensive, and darkened dining rooms across bartenders, food servers and kitchen often relying on electricity generated California. Now, with the state’s econ- staff. Since May 2020, restaurants and by fossil fuels, which are abundant omy officially reopened, about 250 hotels have added 420,400 jobs—the in Iran. workers are back on the job. most of any sector—but the industry According to blockchain analytics Villanueva would hire 100 more if remains about 450,000 jobs below its firm Elliptic, around 4.5 percent of all she could—but she can’t find people to pre-pandemic level. bitcoin mining takes place in Iran, take the openings. In Los Angeles, Caroline Styne, giving it hundreds of million dollars “We are in the midst of a very owner and wine director at The in revenue from cryptocurrencies that severe labour shortage,” said Lucques Group, has turned away doz- can be used to lessen the impact of US Villanueva, owner and managing part- ens of customers because she didn’t sanctions. ner of Acme Hospitality, which oper- have the staff to serve them, leaving Iran’s economy has been hit hard ates eight eateries in the popular sea- seats empty. since 2018, when then-President side destination, though two remain “If you can’t fill your seats ... multi- Donald Trump exited Tehran’s 2015 closed. With staffs stretched paper-nap- ple times per evening, the financial nuclear deal with six powers and kin thin, the employees “are doing the structure of the restaurant doesn’t reimposed sanctions on the Islamic job of two people.” work,” Styne said. “Hiring is a night- Republic. California fully reopened its econo- mare,” she added. “I’ve never been in US President Joe Biden’s my on June 15 and did away with lim- a situation like this.” administration and other global pow- its on capacity at restaurants, retail The sector is notoriously volatile ers are pursuing talks with Iran to stores and other businesses. People and restaurant employees can be a revive the deal. are eager to return to sporting events transient lot—students who drop Iran has accepted crypto mining in and amusement parks and enjoy a in-and-out of shifts as time allows, recent years, offering cheap power meal out. But instead of full dining aspiring actors and musicians looking and requiring miners to sell their bit- rooms, many restaurants are being to supplement their income, kitchen coins to the central bank. Tehran forced to cut operating hours or leave staffers who move on for bigger pay- allows cryptocurrencies mined in tables open. Villanueva’s company is days elsewhere. The hours can be Iran to be used to pay for imports of offering cash bonuses to workers who long, benefits scarce and the pay low, authorised goods. recruit new employees. sometimes reliant on tips. The prospect of cheap state-subsi- The worker shortage is also affect- AP/RSS Styne, Villanueva and other experts dised power has attracted miners, par- ing restaurants across the US The In this June 19 photo, Caroline Styne, owner and wine director at The Lucques Group, welcomes back regular customers. see a web of factors conspiring to cre- ticularly from China, to Iran. National Restaurant Association has ate the scarcity of job applicants. Generating the electricity they use reported the eating and drinking The California Restaurant employment gap is a “full-blown cri- my is roaring back. Indeed, employ- Among them: California’s population requires the equivalent of around 10 industry shed 2.5 million jobs in 2020. Association earlier estimated as many sis,” said Jot Condie, who heads the ment figures released Friday showed dropped by 182,000 last year as the million barrels of crude oil a year, or 4 Federal data show nearly 1.4 million as one-third of the state’s restaurants organization. the state added over 100,000 jobs in pandemic ravaged the economy, scat- percent of total Iranian oil exports in job openings in the restaurant and would not make it through the pan- Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is May, the fourth consecutive month of tering workers around the country as 2020, according to Elliptic. hotel sector in April. demic. For those that survived, the fond of saying that California’s econo- gains after 2.7 million jobs vanished many businesses closed.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Argentina, Chile enter Copa quarter-final Maharaj spins South Nassib comes out as NFL’s Africa to series win first openly gay player The 1-0 win over Paraguay lifted Messi-led side on top of group with seven points—enough to secure place for knockouts. LOS ANGELES: Las Vegas Raiders in West Indies and Colombia where dozens have died defensive end Carl Nassib made histo- in anti-government protests. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ry on Monday after coming out as the The contest had already been GROS-ISLET, JUNE 22 first openly gay active player in the delayed by a year due to the pandemic NFL, a move hailed as a watershed and many players and coaches spoke Keshav Maharaj completed just the moment for America’s most popular out against it going ahead before the second hat-trick by a South African in sport. The 28-year-old five-year veter- tournament began. Test history as the Proteas completed an said in a video posted on a 158-run victory over the West Indies Instagram he hoped his example on the fourth day of the second Test of would boost visibility of other gay GROUP A STANDINGS the two-match series at the Daren athletes. “I just wanted to take a Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia on quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Teams P W D L GF GA PTS Monday. Nassib said in the video. “I’ve been Argentina 3 2 1 0 3 1 7 In the penultimate over before meaning to do this for a while now Chile 3 1 2 0 3 2 5 lunch the left-arm spinner removed but finally feel comfortable getting it Kieran Powell, Jason Holder and off my chest.” Nassib added that he Paraguay 2 1 0 1 3 2 3 Joshua da Silva in successive deliver- was donating $100,000 to the Trevor Uruguay 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 ies to join fast bowler Geoff Griffen, Project, a non-profit group which Bolivia 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 who achieved the feat at Lord’s in 1960, works to prevent suicide among in the record books. Maharaj then fol- LGBTQ youth in the United States. In The build-up to Monday’s Chile- lowed up with two of the last three to a written post which accompanied Uruguay game had been overshad- fall in the afternoon to finish with fig- the statement, Nassib said he had owed by controversy in the Chile camp ures of 5-36 as the West Indies were “agonised over this moment for the after revelations the team had dismissed for 165. last 15 years.” breached Covid-19 protocols by bring- Following a comprehensive innings ing a local hairdresser into the team and 63-run victory inside three days in Younis Khan quits as hotel. CONMEBOL said it would fine the first Test a week earlier at the those involved $30,000. same venue, the result gave South Pakistan batting coach However there was no sign of the Africa the series 2-0, their first away ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain controversy affecting their play, with series triumph since 2017 in New Younis Khan has quit as the national Vargas firing Chile ahead on 26 min- Zealand. team’s batting coach. The Pakistan utes from a tight angle after latching “This is huge for us because we hav- Cricket Board declined to comment onto a clever pass from English-born en’t won on the road for quite some on the reasons Khan quit just days Ben Brereton. time,” said South African captain before the national team is due to POST PHOTO Uruguay grabbed a share of the Dean Elgar. “There will be teething leave for England to play a limit- Argentina’s Alejandro Gomez (right) scored the winning goal against Paraguay in their Copa America match in Brasilia, Brazil, on Monday. points in the second-half when Suarez years as captain but this is a good, ed-overs series. Khan was appointed bundled in the ball from close range important step on the way forward.” last November on a two-year contract AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE La Albiceleste top of Group ‘A’ with drew 1-1 with Uruguay to end the day during a tangle with former Barcelona The home side began the day on 15 until the Twenty20 World Cup in BRASÍLIA, JUNE 22 seven points—enough to secure its with five log points. With four matches team-mate Arturo Vidal at the far post without loss looking at a victory tar- Australia in 2022. “It is sad to lose an spot in the next phase of the tourna- left to play in Group ‘A’, Paraguay has following a corner. get of 324. It was unlikely but given expert of the stature and experience Argentina and Chile on Monday ment being played in empty stadiums three points, Uruguay one, and Bolivia Manchester United striker Edinson they had chased down 395 to beat of Younis Khan,” PCB chief execu- booked their places in the Copa in coronavirus-battered Brazil. zero, meaning they all still stand a Cavani almost snatched victory for Bangladesh in February, the West tive Wasim Khan said in a statement America quarter-finals, ending top of The match marked a personal mile- theoretical chance to go to the quar- Uruguay in the 85th minute, but his Indies were not without hope. At least Tuesday. “Following a series of dis- Group ‘A’ after low-scoring matches stone for Messi, who tied Javier ter-finals. Brazil has already qualified glancing header flashed just wide of not until the 13th over by which stage cussions, we both have reluctantly that left the other two spots up for Mascherano’s record for the most from Group ‘B’. the post. Shai Hope had joined skipper Kraigg but mutually and amicably agreed grabs. games played for Argentina—147. But Despite opposition from politicians Vargas’s first-half strike saw him Brathwaite back in the pavilion, both that it was time to move in different Argentina logged its second win in it was not a night of glory for Messi or and citizens, Brazil agreed at the 11th draw level with Peru’s Paolo Guerrero dismissed by pace bowler Kagiso directions.” The Pakistan squad are three group matches played, beating his team, who in the second half hour to host the world’s oldest inter- on 14 goals in the Copa America’s all- Rabada who then persuaded Kyle set to leave Friday for three three one- Paraguay 1-0, with Alejandro “Papu” seemed to resign themselves to defend- national tournament after South time goalscoring rankings, three Mayers into an ugly hoick which day internationals and three T20s in Gomez scoring the sole goal of a lack- ing a spirited, but ultimately fruitless, American football’s governing body behind the record of 17 held by Brazil’s spliced to Dean Elgar. England. lustre match in Brasilia in the ninth Paraguayan attack. CONMEBOL took it from co-hosts Zizinho and Argentina’s Norberto Maharaj then stole the headlines minute. The win placed Lionel Messi’s In the other match Monday, Chile Argentina, battling a pandemic surge, Mendez. with his hat-trick to extinguish any fading West Indian hopes of an unlike- Shapovalov withdraws ly victory. from Tokyo Olympics First, opening batsman Powell, who had looked composed and assured LONDON: Canada’s Denis Shapovalov through most of his innings of 51, lost has decided not to compete at the his head completely, hoisting Maharaj Tokyo Olympics due to the ongoing New Zealand grab slight first-innings lead to deep midwicket where Anrich Covid-19 pandemic, the world number Nortje barely had to move in taking 12 said on Monday. The 22-year-old AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE et’s first official world champion might end with a transformed into 135-5 as Shami clean bowled BJ the catch just metres off the boundary Shapovalov is the latest player to opt SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 22 winner. Watling, playing his last match before retirement, rope. out of the Olympics as Spaniard After yet more rain delayed Tuesday’s start by an with a superb delivery that darted past the outside Holder prodded at his first delivery Rafael Nadal and Austria’s Dominic India’s Ishant Sharma denied New Zealand captain hour, paceman Mohammed Shami led the way for edge and hit the top of middle and off stumps. for Keegan Petersen to take the sharp Thiem both announced last week Kane Williamson a fifty as the Blackcaps established India with an impressive 4-76 from 26 overs. New Kyle Jamieson, who took five wickets in India’s catch at short-leg and then Wiaan they would not compete in the July a slender lead in the inaugural World Test Zealand resumed on 101-2, still 116 runs behind. innings, drove Shami, armed with the new ball, for a Mulder pulled off a superb snare low 24-Aug. 1 men’s tennis tournament in Championship final at Southampton on Tuesday. Williamson and Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s two magnificent straight six only to fall to the very next to his right at leg-slip when wicket- Tokyo. “Representing Canada means New Zealand were dismissed for 249 in reply to most experienced batsmen, added just 16 runs in delivery when a top-edged hook was well caught at keeper-batsman da Silva attempted a the world to me, but due to the cur- India’s first innings 217, a lead of 32 runs, when tea Tuesday’s first 13 overs so good was the India fine leg by Jasprit Bumrah. Williamson cut Shami leg-side glance to the hat-trick ball. rent situation my team and I have was taken on the fifth day after the interval had been bowling in overcast conditions that made batting for four to go to 49. “I just decided to bowl normally and decided this is the best decision for delayed following the fall of the ninth wicket. This difficult. But in sight of joining New Zealand opener Devon it was a brilliant catch by Wiaan,” said everyone’s safety,” Shapovalov wrote match would, ordinarily, have been heading for a But Shami had Taylor out for just 11 when a mis- Conway (54) in making a fifty this match, his pains- Maharaj. “I really didn’t know what to on Twitter. Shapovalov, who reached draw after the first and fourth days were both timed drive was caught by Shubman Gill at short taking 177-ball innings ended when he steered Ishant do after that because the excitement the quarter-finals at last year’s U.S. washed out without a ball bowled. extra-cover. Ishant, bowling from around the wicket, to opposing captain Virat Kohli at second slip, with of the occasion overtook all of us.” Open, pulled out of this year’s But with the International Cricket Council con- then had left-hander Nicholls well-taken by Rohit New Zealand 221-8. But tailenders Tim Southee and Until the Maharaj intervention, French Open with a shoulder firming that Wednesday’s reserve sixth day, featur- Sharma, moving across to his right at second slip. Trent Boult both hit sixes before the innings ended South Africa had relied on the excel- injury a day after he lost in the ing a maximum of 98 overs, would be used, there was And there were huge cheers from the India fans when Southee played on to left-arm spinner Ravindra lence of Rabada who bowled beautiful- Geneva final. (AGENCIES) still hope a two-year process to crown red-ball crick- among a hardy crowd when New Zealand’s 134-4 was Jadeja for 30. ly to remove Brathwaite and Hope. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Wednesday’s skies are chock full of cosmic action, Make room for your own truth, Cancer. Any partner- You’re being drawn into the dark today, Libra. Rather Your work circumstances have been an ongoing Aries. Bond-focused Venus locks eyes with truth-re- ship problems that have been brewing beneath the than shy away from ugly truths around your home point of confusion in recent weeks, Capricorn. vealing Pluto, bringing potent energy to any rela- surface are likely to make themselves known today, and family life, aim to look them square in the eye. Mercury’s retrograde phase asked you to dig deep tionship issues brewing on the home front. as lover Venus locks into a tense opposition with Get ready to face some left out conversations of your and reassess self-imposed blockages standing in your transformative Pluto. past. way.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’re likely to find yourself in a heavy headspace Lean into the optimism emerging within you today, Wednesday’s skies are packed with cosmic action, As an Aquarius, you’re born to bring an innovative today, Taurus. Allow yourself to dig deep and feel Leo. The life-giving sun forms a harmonious pact Scorpio. Relationship-building Venus locks into a approach to stagnant problems. Let yourself commit whatever needs to be felt without judgment. Today with faith-instilling Jupiter today. This makes it easy tense opposition with emotionally raw Pluto. Today, to that favour in your work life today, as value-setting you have some intense healing conversations to do. to see the big picture around ancient emotional mate- roll with the punches and face everything as honest- Venus opposes truth-revealing Pluto today. rial that used to stand in your way. ly as you can to clear the air.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Wednesday’s cosmic landscape is a strange mix Dueling forces are at play beneath Wednesday’s Let the light shine down today, Sagittarius. The ener- Your foundations have been shifting beneath your between soothing and intense, Gemini. Bond-seeking skies, Virgo. Bond-building Venus locks into an gising sun sends its sweet rays to your ruling planet, feet, Pisces. After weeks of introspection, you’re Venus locks into a disgruntled connection with emo- intense opposition with wound-healing Pluto, drag- aspirational Jupiter. This illuminating contact helps ready to move out of your past and into your present. tionally potent Pluto. The sun’s sweet link with feel- ging any disregarded relationship truths out into the you bravely trek into the dark of your own heart. Today you will have some much-needed clarity to good Jupiter brightens horizons on the work front. open—especially concerning friends. your home and family life. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 | 07

Copenhagen fairytale breathes life into Denmark Busquets set to start The Danes, who lost their first two matches and needed Belgium to beat Finland and a win by two goals or more, beat Russia 4-1 to advance. against Slovakia ASSOCIATED PRESS as a starter, but he had said SEVILLE, JUNE 22 the player was ready to play from the moment he Spain may summon their rejoined the squad. The most experienced player for Spanish football federation their most important match said Busquets was picked to at the European speak alongside Luis Championship. Sergio Enrique at the team’s pre- Busquets is set to return for match news conference on the match against Slovakia Tuesday. on Wednesday, when “La Azpilicueta may be anoth- Roja” face the possibility of er veteran called upon to an embarrassing elimina- help the Spanish squad as tion in front of their fans. they face elimination. The Only victory for Spain 31-year-old Chelsea right will be enough to ensure a back has yet to play at Euro spot in the round of 16 at 2020 as Luis Enrique pre- Euro 2020. A draw may be ferred to use Marcos enough, but only if Poland Llorente in the position. do not defeat Sweden in the Jordi Alba had taken over other Group E match. as captain in the absence of The 32-year-old Busquets, Busquets. The national the only player left from team’s longtime captain, Spain’s World Cup-winning Sergio Ramos, was not squad in 2010, didn’t play in called up after playing spar- the team’s first two matches ingly in the final part of the after testing positive for season with Real Madrid coronavirus. The Barcelona because of injuries. midfielder had to go into The decision to leave him AFP/RSS isolation and only rejoined out of the squad even Denmark (pictured), Russia and Finland all finished with three points in Group B behind Belgium, but the Danes qualified on goal difference to book a last 16 clash against Wales while Russia are going home. the squad on Friday. He did though he would have been not dress for the game fit to play by the time Euro REUTERS ricochet well outside the box and unleash- In Saint Petersburg, Belgium coach against Poland on Saturday. 2020 started drew a lot of COPENHAGEN, JUNE 22 ing a pile-driver that flew into the back of EURO 2020 STANDINGS Roberto Martinez made changes from the Rodri Hernandez played criticism against Luis the net in the 79th minute. side that beat Denmark 2-1 but his was still in Busquets’ position in the Enrique, with many saying Group B On their way out of the tournament and The beer from plastic cups thrown high a line-up bursting with world-class talent first two matches, a 0-0 draw the team was left without a having lost Christian Eriksen to a cardiac into the night sky in celebration rained Teams P W D L GF GA PTS as Eden Hazard and De Bruyne made their against Sweden and a 1-1 true leader. arrest, Denmark tore up the script to secure down as a thunderous roar of jubilation Belgium* 3 3 0 0 7 1 9 first starts of the tournament. draw against Poland. The Slovakia need a draw to a spot in the Euro 2020 knockout stages in a echoed around a stadium that had been Denmark* 3 1 0 2 5 4 3 The much-changed side dominated the 25-year-old Manchester City guarantee their spot in the fairytale ending that Hans Christian silenced by Eriksen’s collapse nine days Finland 3 1 0 2 1 3 3 game but only found a breakthrough in the midfielder didn’t play poor- next round. They are mak- Andersen could barely have imagined. ago. In the aftermath of that incident, the Russia** 3 1 0 2 2 7 3 74th minute courtesy of an own goal from ly but didn’t excel either. ing their second consecutive The Danes had taken the 2-0 lead they Danes struggled to find their rhythm in the keeper Lukas Hradecky, who fumbled a Spain coach Luis Enrique appearance after debuting needed against Russia to go second in 1-0 loss to Finland and they did not recover *qualified **eliminated Thomas Vermaelen header over the line hasn’t confirmed Busquets at Euro 2016. Group B if Belgium beat Finland, but it fully in time for the Belgium game. after it had crashed off the woodwork. Artyem Dzyuba’s 70th-minute penalty sent Their shooting was wayward and lacking ten. Finland were two goals down to Striker Romelu Lukaku clinched the vic- them down to third again, their tourna- conviction, but against Russia everything Belgium but still playing, and the Danish tory in the 83rd minute by swivelling to Today’s Fixtures ment hopes ebbing away. It was a similar went their way. The final word fell to players and staff formed a ring in the mid- thump home a De Bruyne pass and score story in their second group game against Joakim Maehle, who had taken the throw- dle of the pitch. his third goal of the tournament. the Belgians, when they took an early lead, in to Eriksen just before he slumped to the An official from the Danish FA refreshed Finland, who came third with three only to capitulate to the brilliance of Kevin turf. The right-footed left back with a pen- an app on his phone but the crowd were points, must wait until the end of the group De Bruyne. chant for attacking raids roared forward quicker, their roar informing the stadium stage to see if their adventure in a first ever On Monday, though, they would not be before firing home the fourth goal to send that Belgium had won and that Denmark, major tournament will continue and they denied. Led by captain Simon Kjaer, who the Copenhagen crowd into ecstasy. after losing both their playmaker and their need a series of results to go their way if engaged in a titanic struggle with the As he ran to celebrate, Maehle formed first two games, were through to the knock- they are to make the last 16. gigantic Dzyuba all night, the Danes dug his fingers into the number 10 worn by out stages. The results in Group B also saw deep into a well of courage that has sus- Eriksen, who is now recovering at home When Eriksen collapsed against Finland, Switzerland, who finished third in Group tained them since Eriksen’s collapse, and following his discharge from hospital, just fans could not watch. Now, they could not A, the Czech Republic, England, Sweden they were not to be found wanting. as Christensen had done before him. bring themselves to leave as they expressed and France—all yet to play their Defender Andreas Christensen ventured The final whistle went to confirm a 4-1 their gratitude to coach Kasper Hjulmand final group games—move into the knock- further forward, eventually picking up a win, but the final chapter was not yet writ- and his courageous squad. out phase. Sweden vs Poland 21:45 NST, Wednesday Players to Watch Slovakia vs Spain 21:45 NST, Wednesday Diogo Jota (Portugal) Antoine Griezmann (France) Portugal vs France 00:45 NST, Thursday The 24-year-old came off the back of a The Euro 2016 Golden Boot winner prolific campaign with Liverpool and has scored 37 goals for France in 92 Germany vs Hungary has carried that momentum at caps. Although the 30-year-old has 00:45 NST, Thursday European championship as well— struggled to retain high level of form scoring a goal and setting up another at Barcelona since moving from in a match which Portugal lost 4-2 Atletico Madrid, the attacker remains against Germany. A legitimate alter- a trusted general of Didier Results native to Roberto Firmino at cen- Deschamps’ side. And of course, it Russia 1-4 Denmark tre-forward at Liverpool, the defend- was Griezmann who rescued France ing champions can find yet another in a 1-1 draw against Hungary in Finland 0-2 Belgium potent attacking weapon in Jota. their second group match. France’s battle against Portugal lacks punch ASSOCIATED PRESS far, including a tournament-leading so did left back Lucas Digne. BUDAPEST, JUNE 22 three for Ronaldo. But the Portuguese “We all know how good he is, he’s are conceding too easily, conceding shown it for Real Madrid,” Digne said France advanced without kicking a four to the Germans. of Benzema. “He does so much for the ball, and Portugal can move on as well It’s the opposite case for France, team, his movement is great. Nobody even with a loss on Wednesday. who shut out Germany in a 1-0 victory in the squad is doubting him.” Hardly the heavyweight showdown but fluffed several chances in a 1-1 France’s attacking options have many had hoped for in a match pitting draw with Hungary. With an attack been reduced by a knee injury to wing- defending champions Portugal against that is the envy of most coaches, it er Ousmane Dembele, who left the World Cup champions France, and seems odd that France are not yet squad on Monday and won’t be Cristiano Ronaldo against Kylian clicking in attack. replaced. Mbappe. All’s well with Portugal’s attack. Results on Tuesday guaranteed Ronaldo’s goals have taken him to a France a spot in the round of 16. A A one-goal loss for record 12 over five continental one-goal loss for Portugal should be tournaments, three more than France enough as long as Hungary don’t win Portugal should be great Michel Platini. A hat-trick in Germany in Group F’s other game. against France would see him Still, that’s unlikely to alter France enough to advance break the overall men’s record coach Didier Deschamps’ way of for international goals, which is held thinking, and he is thinking only of as long as Hungary by former Iran striker Ali Daei with first place. 109. “We still hold the cards,” Deschamps don’t beat Germany. The 36-year-old Ronaldo’s move- said. “If we win then we’ll finish ment remains troublesome for defend- first.” ers, despite his age. He is adept at cut- The winner of Group F will play Mbappe netted a career-high 42 ting in from both flanks, hard to stop one of the third-place finishers. goals for Paris Saint-Germain this running through the middle because Portugal can still win the group by season, while Karim Benzema scored of his close control, and dangerous in beating France, but it depends on 30 for Real Madrid and moved into a the air. what happens in Munich in the match tie for fourth on the all-time list of At least France won’t have to defend between Germany and Hungary. scorers in the Champions League with against him in the intense sun Germany and Portugal have three 71. Yet neither has scored so far at this time, unlike last Saturday’s points and the same goal difference, Euro 2020. mid-afternoon heat and noise against while Hungary are last with one point Benzema is getting more criticism Hungary. and must win to advance. than Mbappe, however, and the play- A late kickoff will see to that, but it AFP/RSS Portugal are having no problem ers are trying to sound reassuring. also offers Ronaldo a chance to dazzle Players of Germany share a light moment during a training session at the Adi Dassler stadium in scoring goals—five in two games so After Antoine Griezmann backed him, under the lights. Germany on Tuesday, on the eve of their Euro 2020 Group F football match against Hungary.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Hisila Yami: The more you write, the more you read Although mostly known for her political career, Hisila Yami is also an avid reader and a writer, with many books to her name including the recently released memoir.

former lawmaker, three-time affected the distribution of the book. We still minister, and one of the politbu- haven’t been able to get the book to America, ro members during the ‘people’s Canada and several other countries. war’, Hisila Yami’s political profile and persona is known to You have been writing for such a long time. In many. your view what value does writing have? AYami is also widely known for her work in academia. For thirteen years, she worked as a When you write, it gives you a sense of useful- lecturer at the Institute of Engineering, ness. It provides you with an opportunity to Pulchowk Campus from 1983 to 1996. impart your knowledge. And that is why I find However, only very few people are aware of writing so empowering. the fact that Yami is also a writer. Over the Another thing about writing is the more you years, she has written books, columns, and write, the more you read. The more you want to opinion pieces. Adhikar: Demystification of know. Writing expands one’s world views. Law for Nepali Women, Marxbad Ra Mahila Mukti, and People’s War and Women’s What are some books that have influenced you Liberation in Nepal are some of the books she the most? has already authored. Last month, her memoir Hisila: From Revolutionary to First Lady was When I went to Russia, I met my student Jiba released, and the book has received apprecia- Lamichhane there. He presented me with a tion from many writers and readers. book called Stalin’s Daughter by Rosemary In this interview with the Post’s Ankit Sullivan. Khadgi, Yami talks about her new book, the The book is based on the life of Svetlana challenges she faced releasing it in the midst Alliluyeva, Joseph Stalin’s daughter. The book of a pandemic, and her love for writing. shows how Alliluyeva was used as a political This interview has been condensed for clarity. tool by others and they robbed her of her inde- pendence. She wanted to live a very independ- When did you realise or discover that you have ent ordinary life but she couldn’t. a penchant for writing? That book became an interesting read because as a politician I am aware of how it I have enjoyed writing since my childhood feels to be on two sides of the fence and how days. As a student in Kanpur, India, I often politics can affect a human being on a personal used to write letters to my siblings. As an level. extrovert, I was very good at expressing things, Another book that has made an impact on and my letters were always very descriptive. me is The Communist Manifesto. It’s a fantas- I really began to enjoy writing during my tic and holistic book. Obviously, in today’s architecture student days in Delhi. At that global context, the text might not be enough, time, I used to write articles and letters for a but for me, that book had a big influence in

feminist magazine called Manushi. YAMI HISILA COURTESY: PHOTO shaping my political views. But it was only during the ‘people’s war’ that I found Daughter of the East by Benazir I began writing very seriously, especially in the think. I have switched to writing in English There might be many reasons behind it. In I am a very spontaneous person. First, I wrote Bhutto very rich as well. I had no clue about English language. I was leading the move- because I am more comfortable writing in this Nepal’s context, we have very few people who whatever was on my mind. It was only in the the struggles she went through. I am also fond ment’s International Department and I had to language. My writing is not laced with sophis- write this kind of book in English, especially third or fourth draft that I went through the of reading books on gender issues. I enjoyed do a lot of translation work—from translating ticated-sounding verbs and words but I can women writers. Also being published by text multiple times and began to finalise reading Patriarchy and Accumulation on a Nepali news to English to writing reviews of freely express myself in this language. Penguin brings its own aura and charm. everything. So writing the book wasn’t chal- World Scale by Maria Mies as well. books I read. But the most important thing is that this lenging but it was a long journey. Similarly, our party used to produce The Do you still remember your first published book isn’t just an autobiography. It is political Once I was done with the final draft I did go What suggestions would you give to aspiring Worker, an annual journal. I would often write writing? as well and covers the history of three genera- to a publication house. But they told me to writers? articles on issues related to gender, ethnicity, tions of political events that took place in the change many things, which I didn’t like. Then nationalism and so on. As I wrote so many I think it was a poem that I wrote in English for country. Both of my parents were into politics. a friend of mine introduced me to Penguin I would just suggest they first write whatever articles every year for the journal, I collected Manushi magazine. My father was a state minister and he was one Random House, an Indian publication house. I they want to. The more you write, the more all of them and turned them into my first book, My architecture college in Delhi was very of the first leaders in Nepal to highlight the was very pleased to meet Meru Gokhale, the you go into reading as you need materials People’s War and Women’s Liberation in Nepal. apolitical. Even during the emergency rule, we issue of inclusivity. In this book, I have tried to publisher of Penguin. She was very encourag- for your writing. And once you start reading I started writing in Nepali after I joined had no clue about what was happening. But weave both of my parents’ perspectives, their ing and she even gave me a team of women to more, your horizon and knowledge start mainstream politics. But since I mostly studied one thing we observed was the destruction of ideologies and how it has affected us as well look at my book. I wasn’t put under any pres- expanding. in India, from an age of 11 to 25, I was more the two squatter settlements that were near along with my own political journey. sure to add or remove anything. All they did That’s why I believe writing is important as comfortable with English. Even if I was able to our college. Seeing that affected our senti- I also felt that it’s my duty to let people know was make the language beautiful and take care it also fosters a reading culture. The two are speak in Nepali, I would still think in English ments. Deeply moved by the destruction of the more about what the ‘people’s war’ was actual- of citations. intrinsically linked. first and then only write in Nepali. Since my settlements, I wrote a poem about it in English ly about. The ‘people’s war’ definitely had good During the whole process, I felt more like a Similarly, I think it’s high time we as a coun- Nepali wasn’t good, many people made fun of which got published in the magazine. things as well as bad and I have tried to be as student as I was learning many new things. try focus on developing a reading culture. me. Rather than appreciating the fact that a honest as possible about the events in the book. Since the book was released in the midst of a Populism comes where knowledge is scarce, Newa person like me can write in Nepali, they Your recently released memoir has been pandemic, that posed many challenges. I, along which is what is happening in Nepal. If more mocked me. receiving praises? Why do you think people are Did you face any challenges in the process of with a few of the team members from Penguin, people start reading, populism will find no These days I don’t care what people say or liking your book? writing and publishing the book? got infected by Covid-19. The pandemic has also place in our society.

Published and Printed by Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd., Central Business Park, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, P. B. No. 8559, Phone: 5135000, Fax: 977-1-5135057, e-mail: [email protected], Regd. No. 32/049/050, Chairman & Managing Director: Kailash Sirohiya, Director: Swastika Sirohiya, Editor: Sanjeev Satgainya