WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 38 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.4 C 1.9 C Sunday, March 28, 2021 | 15-12-2077 Janakpur Jumla More than 90 killed in Myanmar in one of As controversy over bloodiest days of protests since military coup Constitutional Council continues, recruitment in state agencies is hit Office bearers of Public Service Commission retired last week. With the ordinance on Council challenged in court and bill stuck in House, new appointments can’t be made.

ANIL GIRI lawmaker Laxman Lal Karna KATHMANDU, MARCH 27 told the Post. “We have also not heard anything While a case related to the controver- from the government side.” sial amendment to the Constitutional According to legal and constitution- Council Act in December is at the al experts, if the ordinance tabled Supreme Court, the positions of the in the House failed to get authenticat- chair and members of the Public ed within 60 days, the ordinance Service Commission, the constitution- will be void. al body mandated to recruit employ- Besides, two separate cases have ees in the bureaucracy, govern- been filed in the Supreme Court ment-owned companies, security against the amendment. agencies and other federal offices As per the amendment, the Council remain vacant. can hold its meeting in the presence of With the retirement of the chair the majority of its members to make Umesh Prasad Mainali and members the recommendations to the President Brinda Hada, Ashok Jha, Brahmadev for appointments in constitutional Yadav and Krishna Jha last week, the bodies whereas the previous provi- recruitment of essential staff to the sions of Act stated that five of the six commission is on hold. members must be present for the But the Constitutional Council is meeting to convene. not in a position to make appoint- Following the amendment in ments immediately. December, the Council met with In December, Prime Minister KP Prime Minister Oli as chair, and Sharma Oli’s Cabinet amended the Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Constitutional Council Act (Functions, Rana and National Assembly Duties and Procedures) 2010 through Chairman Ganesh Timilsina as its an ordinance and it is now in members. The leader of the opposi- Parliament for approval. tion and Nepali Congress President But it has not yet been put to vote Sher Bahadur Deuba and Speaker of as the opposition parties—Nepali the House of Representatives Agni AP/RSS Congress and the Janata Samajbadi Sapkota were not present at the meet- Demonstrators hurl back tear gas canisters towards police during a protest against the military coup on Saturday, in Mandalay, Myanmar. Party—are against the amendment ing. Since there is no deputy Speaker to the Act. there are only five members in the INSIDE “Our opposition [to the amendment] Council. The deaths take the number of civilians reported killed since February 1 to over 400. continues,” Janata Samajbadi Party >> Continued on page 2

Data collection for national ID REUTERS without giving any time-frame. YANGON, MARCH 27 “The army seeks to join hands with card distribution hits snag the entire nation to safeguard democ- KATHMANDU: The Covid-19 pandemic Security forces killed more than 90 racy,” he said in a live broadcast on has emerged as a setback for the plan people across Myanmar on Saturday state television. “Violent acts that to collect personal details of 10 mil- in one of the bloodiest days of protests affect stability and security in order to lion people for the National since a military coup last month, news make demands are inappropriate.” Identification Cards with the govern- reports and witnesses said. The military has said it took power ment admitting that the details of The lethal crackdown came on because November elections won by less than half the targeted population Armed Forces Day. Senior General Aung San Suu Kyi’s party were fraud- could be collected by the end of the Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, ulent, an assertion dismissed by the current fiscal year. In the first phase, said during a parade in the capital country’s election commission. the government had planned to col- Naypyitaw to mark the event that the Suu Kyi, the elected leader and lect personal details of 10 million peo- military would protect the people and the country’s most popular civilian ple in 38 districts and distribute strive for democracy. politician, remains in detention at an national IDs to them. “We can now State television had said on Friday undisclosed location. Many other fig- collect details of only 4.4.5 million that protesters risked being shot “in ures in her party are also being held people in the current fiscal year if the head and back”. Despite this, dem- in custody. the emerging threat of the second onstrators against the February 1 In its warning on Friday evening, wave of coronavirus crisis does not coup came out on the streets of state television said protesters were hit the country,” said Jitendra Yangon, Mandalay and other towns. “in danger of getting shot to the head Basnet, director general at the The Myanmar Now news portal said and back”. It did not specifically say Department of National ID and Civil 91 people were killed across the coun- security forces had been given shoot- Registration. (Details on Pg 3) try by security forces. to-kill orders and the junta has previ- A boy reported by local media to be ously suggested some fatal shootings as young as five was among at least 29 have come from within the crowds. Spurred by lockdown, Spain people killed in Mandalay. At least 24 International pressure on the junta gives 4-day week a try people were killed in Yangon, increased this week with new US and MADRID: After years of waiting tables, Myanmar Now said. “Today is a day of European sanctions. But Russia’s dep- Danae De Vries is one step closer to shame for the armed forces,” Dr Sasa, uty defence minister Alexander achieving her lifetime dream of a spokesman for CRPH, an anti-junta Fomin attended the parade in becoming a theatre coach. Ironically, group set up by deposed lawmakers, Naypyitaw, having met senior junta she owes that to the pandemic. It was told an online forum. leaders a day earlier. after last year’s brutal lockdown that Meanwhile, one of Myanmar’s two “Russia is a true friend,” Min Aung shut the Spanish economy down for dozen ethnic armed groups, the Karen Hlaing said. weeks that the owners of a small res- National Union, said it had overrun Diplomats said eight countries— taurant chain in Madrid offered De an army post near the Thai border, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Vries to cut her weekly work sched- killing 10 people—including a lieuten- Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and ule by one day. Already struggling to ant colonel—and losing one of its own Thailand—sent representatives, but make ends meet in a city that has fighters. A military spokesman did Russia was the only one to send a min- seen rental prices spiral, the 28-year- not respond to calls seeking comment ister. Support from Russia and China, old was hesitant at first — and then on the killings by security forces or which has also refrained from criti- enthusiastic when she was told her the insurgent attack on its post. cism, is important for the junta as wages would remain untouched. “They are killing us like birds or those two countries are permanent “Now I have time to work, to see my chickens, even in our homes,” said members of the United Nations family and friends, and to find Thu Ya Zaw in the central town of Security Council and can block poten- enough time to study,” she said. Myingyan, where at least two protest- tial UN actions. (Details on Pg 5) ers were killed. “We will keep protest- Armed Forces Day commemorates ing regardless... We must fight until the start of the resistance to Japanese the junta falls.” occupation in 1945 that was orches- Nepal through to final after The deaths on Saturday would take trated by Suu Kyi’s father, the founder the number of civilians reported of the military. goalless stalemate against killed since the coup to well over 400. Gunshots hit the US cultural centre Bangladesh “This 76th Myanmar armed forces in Yangon on Saturday, but nobody KATHMANDU: Hosts Nepal played a 0-0 day will stay engraved as a day of ter- was hurt and the incident was being stalemate against Bangladesh in the ror and dishonour,” the EU delegation investigated, US Embassy spokesper- final group match of the Three to Myanmar said. “The killings of son Aryani Manring said. Nations Cup at the Dasharath unarmed civilians, including chil- Protesters have taken to the streets Stadium on Saturday to set up the dren, are indefensible acts.” almost daily since the coup that title decider against the same South News reports said there were derailed Myanmar’s slow transition to Asian opponents. Bangladesh, who deaths in the central Sagaing region, democracy. had already booked final spot after a Lashio in the east, in the Bago region, General Yawd Serk, chair of the 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan U-23, topped near Yangon, and elsewhere. A one- Restoration Council of Shan State/ the group with four points after a win year-old baby was hit in the eye with a Shan State Army—South, one of the and a draw. Nepal secured two points, rubber bullet. ethnic armies in the country, told one more than the central Asian In Naypyitaw, Min Aung Hlaing reit- Reuters in neighbouring Thailand: “If country, to finish runners up. Both erated a promise to hold elections, they continue to shoot at protesters the finalists, however, made it to the and bully the people, I think all final without scoring a single goal on the ethnic groups would not just their own as Bangladesh had defeated stand by and do nothing.” Kyrgyz age group team on the back Author and historian Thant of an own goal. Hosts Nepal came up Myint-U wrote on Twitter: “A with the same starting XI they played failed state in Myanmar has the against the Kyrgyz youth team, potential to draw in all the big giving official international debut to powers—including the US, China, three players including midfielders India, Russia, and Japan—in a Tridev Gurung and Sanjog Rai, way that could lead to a serious and he also introduced defender international crisis [as well as an Nishan Khadka as substitute in the even greater catastrophe in second half. (Details on Pg 7) Myanmar itself]”.

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Migrant workers start returning home as India reports rise in Covid-19 cases As least 34 people entering Nepal from Gauriphanta border tested positive for Covid-19 in the past five days.

ARJUN SHAH Bajhang who arrived at Gauriphanta DHANGADHI, MARCH 27 from Gujarat on Wednesday, said that he decided to return home, as there The flow of Nepali people returning was fear of yet another outbreak in home from various parts of India his place of work. through Gauriphanta border point in “I returned from Gujarat since the Kailali district has significantly number of Covid-19 cases is increas- increased amid a surge in Covid-19 ing there. Many other villagers are cases in India. also preparing to return home,” said “The situation at the border point is Rokaya. “We don’t want to get caught similar to how it was last year around in the middle of yet another outbreak the same time,” said Amit BK, a health in a foreign country.” worker deployed in Gauriphanta Health authorities said that prepa- health desk. rations are underway to manage isola- As many as 34 returnees entering tion wards and quarantine facilities through Gauriphanta have tested pos- for returnees. itive for the virus in the past five days. “We have instructed all the health According to the District Health units to stay on high alert. Efforts are Office, 10 returnees tested positive on to manage isolation wards and for the virus on Saturday alone. quarantine facilities,” said Dr Gunaraj “Number of positive cases is increas- Awasthi, chief at the provincial health ing by the day,” said Lal Bahadur directorate. Dhami, chief at the District Health “There are a total of 2,106 quaran- Office tine beds in 71 different places of The infected returnees have been Sudurpaschim Province,” he said. asked to stay in home quarantine. Meanwhile, the Kailali District Superintendent of Armed Police Administration Office on Wednesday Force Dipendra Kunwar said the num- issued a nine-point directive to con- ber of people entering Nepal through tain a possible outbreak of Covid-19. POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Gauriphanta border point has doubled The district administration imposed a Workers tend to roadside plants in Sanepa. Lalitpur officials have launched various city beautification programmes. in recent days. ban on assembling in huge numbers “Until a week ago, around 400 to 500 and organising feasts, festivals, rallies people entered Nepal through and fairs, among others. Gauriphanta on a daily basis. In the “Strong action will be taken in case last week, the number has doubled to one is found violating the directives,” 1,000 people per day,” said Kunwar. said Chief District Officer Khagendra Thousands of migrant workers Prasad Rijal. Motorable road reaches remote Baglung villages from several districts of Sudurpaschim According to the data available at Province have started returning the Provincial Health Directorate, home from New Delhi, Mumbai, there are 166 active cases of Covid-19 The road link comes as huge relief especially for pregnant women and the elderly in times of emergencies, villagers say. Gujarat and Chennai, among other in Sudurpaschim Province. A total of Indian cities, fearing another out- 14,087 people have tested positive PRAKASH BARAL ture, animal husbandry and drinking Taman and Sole. Fifteen-km-long “Rural roads have been constructed break of coronavirus. for the virus in the province so far BAGLUNG, MARCH 27 water in the past. Burtibang-Bungadobhan road has to connect all five wards of the local Dil Bahadur Rokaya, a resident of with 56 deaths. “But after the formation of the local been gravelled by the National unit to Bungadobhan,” he said. For the residents of rural villages in government, the budget is distributed Reconstruction Authority. “After the construction of the Baglung, a journey to the next town accordingly in every sector that is “The National Reconstruction Burtibang-Bungadobhan-Narjakhani was at least a day’s walk. With the important for the development of Authority allocated Rs 157.9 million to road section, the residents of rural local units now focusing on rural road remote areas,” Chhantyal said. upgrade the road,” said Renuka villages can now easily travel to Beni link, the journey has been reduced to Kul Bahadur Chhantyal, ward Pandey, acting chief of the District Bazaar, the district headquarters of a mere two-hour bus ride at the most, chairman of Tamankhola Ward No. 6, Project Implementation Unit Office of Myagdi. It is nearer than Baglung say local residents. says the villages have gone through the National Reconstruction Bazaar. Local residents go to Baglung Om Prakash Chhantyal, a resident major changes in the last five years. Authority. “The local level did not Bazaar for administrative works but of Tamankhola Ward No. 6, says have enough budget to upgrade the they go to Beni to buy essential goods,” reaching the nearest town, Burtibang, road track that was damaged by the said Udim Chhantyal, chairman of used to take him an entire day on foot. It took villagers at 2015 earthquake. That’s why the Tamankhola. But with easy road access, it now National Reconstruction Authority A motorable road has also been con- takes him around two hours to reach least a day to reach stepped in.” According to Joklal structed from Bungadobhan to Sole at the town. Budha, chairman of Tamankhola the cost of Rs 30 million provided by “We can now take jeeps to reach the next town before Rural Municipality, transportation the local unit and infrastructure Burtibang. We had to go to Burtibang services along the road stretch is reg- development partnership programme. at least twice a month to buy essen- the road was built. ular these days, even during the rainy The local residents of Tamankhola tials. The then District Development season since culverts and roadside had constructed another road from Committee in Baglung never paid drainage have also been constructed. Darbang of Myagdi district to much attention to road connectivity “It was our prerogative to make the “Two bridges are under construc- Okharbote in Baglung a few years ago and did not allocate sufficient budget lives of the rural people easier. One of tion along the road section,” said by collecting Rs 6 million donations. for road projects,” he said. “But the the first ways to do that was to open Budha. “Road connectivity has come as a local government has listened to our roadways. Now Tamankhola is direct- Budha informed that the construc- huge relief especially for pregnant needs and focussed on development of ly connected to Burtibang,” he said. tion of a 25-metre-long bridge over the women and the elderly. They now have road structure.” The Burtibang-Bungadobhan- Lukurban stream and a 40-metre-long easy access to health institutions in According to Chhantyal, the then Narjakhani road is a 25km-long strate- bridge over the Bhalibang stream is case of an emergency,” said Garima District Development Committee used gic road stretch that connects with also ongoing with the aim to complete Harmel, a local resident of POST PHOTO: ARJUN SHAH to prioritise micro projects on agricul- neighbouring Myagdi district through works by mid-June. Tamankhola. People line up outside the Covid-19 health desk after crossing the border at Gauriphanta. Wildlife in Banke, Bardiya national As controversy over Constitutional ... >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 repeated attempts to introduce the incumbent ones have started The meeting recommended about same ordinance bypassing Parliament lobbying for posts in the Public parks affected as water sources dry up three dozen officials for several consti- is fraud on the constitution. If the Service Commission. tutional bodies. These appointments ordinance comes repeatedly on the According to three different have been challenged in court includ- same subject and theme bypassing sources privy to information regard- Parched animals entering human settlements has led to human-wildlife conflicts. ing by Speaker Sapkota. Parliament is a malafide intention. ing aspirants, secretaries like “At a time when the row over The government has made mistakes. Sishir Kumar Dhungana (Finance), THAKUR SINGH THARU IN BANKE & Constitutional Council Act continues, It should table an amendment bill, Madhusudan Adhikari (Irrigation), KAMAL PANTHI IN BARDIYA on what moral grounds will the instead of the ordinance in the Bishow Nath Oli (Forest and MARCH 27 Speaker and the opposition party lead- House.” Environment), Yam Kumari er take part in the meeting of the A secretary at the Prime Minister’s Khatiwada (Women and Children) as Wildlife in Banke and Bardiya nation- Council until there is a new agree- Office said there are no preparations well as former secretaries Chandra al parks have been hugely affected due ment,” outgoing chair of the commis- right now to hold a meeting of the Ghimire, Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, to the drying up of water sources. The sion Mainali told the Post. “There council. The Prime Minister’s Office Rajan Khanal, Bishnu Lamsal, scarcity of water has led to more ani- should be a political agreement on the acts as the secretariat of the Rajiv Gautam, Mohan Krishna mals entering human settlements in Constitutional Council Act. Constitutional Council and it main- Sapkota and Gajendra Thakur are search of water and causing Otherwise, I see a prolonged crisis in tains the roster of potential vying for the posts of its chair or human-wildlife conflict. the appointment process in constitu- candidates for various constitutional members. Banke National Park, which spreads tional bodies.” bodies. Subas Nembang, deputy across 550 square kilometres of area, Of special concern for Mainali is “The PSC is not like other constitu- Parliamentary Party leader of the does not have perennial rivers and the positions vacant at the Public tional bodies,” the secretary told the CPN-UML, said since the Supreme rivulets. Service Commission. Post on condition of anonymity. “If its Court did not issue a stay “There are a few streams that pass “The PSC cannot be run by bureau- work is halted in the absence of office order against the case, the govern- through the park forests but water POST PHOTO crats,” said Mainali. “Bureaucrats bearers, recruitments for civil service ment can move ahead with the level there sharply decreases during An artificial pond inside Banke National Park. cannot make recommendations for will be pushed back, that in security existing provision. the dry season,” said Shyam Shah, the promotion, they cannot hold inter- agencies, corporations and other “Since I am not part of the chief conservation officer at the ing wildlife, park authorities have flow has declined sharply, as floods in views in senior posts and conduct government organisations will be government, I cannot say anything Banke National Park. constructed ponds in the park area so the past have deposited too much silt the exams.” halted or deferred. Therefore, posi- on the behalf of the government,” To address the water issue, the the animals don’t have to cross the at Lalmatiya. According to him, the commission tions in the PSC should be fulfilled at Nembang told the Post. “But since national park a few years ago had con- highway to reach Rapti River. Asim Thapa, assistant conservation conducts over 30,000 different kinds of the earliest.” the Supreme Court did not issue a structed around four dozen artificial “Animals start entering human officer of the park, however, said that examinations for recruiting different As per Article 242 of the stay order, it means the government ponds. According to the park adminis- settlements when there’s no water the park administration is working to levels of civil servants, army, police, constitution, at least 50 percent of can move ahead with the tration, there are around 100 natural source inside the park,” said Krishna manage water in Geruwa River. corporate and other federal offices. the total number of members of appointments. If Parliament fails to and artificial water sources within the Chaudhary, a conservationist in “We have constructed 52 artificial Meanwhile, since the issue of the the Public Service Commission shall authenticate the ordinance by 60 days park area but almost all of them run Banke. ponds and installed 45 solar water Constitutional Council is pending in be appointed from amongst the after its registration in the House, the dry during the dry season. Bardiya National Park also has a pumps for the management of water the Supreme Court and Parliament, persons who have worked for 20 or ordinance will be void. Then again it “Wild animals from the park come similar problem. A sharp decline in for wildlife,” Thapa said. experts in the field of constitutional more years in any government is up to the government.” out and enter human settlements due the water flow in Geruwa river, an But locals say the park’s efforts are affairs say appointments made on service, and the rest of the members Karna of the Samajbadi Party said to water shortage. It is one of the rea- offshoot of the Karnali River a few not sufficient. Mohammad Kar Khan, December 15 by the Constitutional shall be appointed from amongst they have not heard anything from sons behind the unchecked incidents kilometres downstream from a member of the secretariat of the Council may be scrapped, experts persons of reputation after having the government in this regard. of human-animal conflict,” said Shah. Chisapani, has affected wildlife in the Federation of Community Forestry said. done research, investigation, teaching “Any delay in filling the PSC Frequent road accidents involving western part of the national park. Users Nepal, said the park authorities “If Parliament passes the ordinance or any other significant work in the positions would push back the entire wildlife are reported along the East- “Animals enter human settlements should work more efficiently to man- bill within 60 days of its registration, field of science, technology, art, recruitment drive as we had to West Highway, as the animals in the during the dry season, as the river age water for its animals to contain then the ordinance becomes the law literature, law, public administration, push back around 6,000 additional park have to cross the highway to hardly has any water,” said Rangilal human-wildlife conflict. but if that fails, the ordinance will be sociology or in other spheres of recruitments due to Covid-19,” said reach Rapti River, which lies in the Tharu of Geruwa Rural Bardiya National Park, which void and those appointments made national life. Mainali, the outgoing chair. buffer zone area. Municipality-4. spreads across 968 sq km of area, is after the ordinance scrapped,” The commission has a chair and “Delay in appointments will A 102-km stretch of the highway Over the past few years, Geruwa home to an estimated 125 tigers along Chandra Kant Gyawali, an expert on four members. Despite the overstretch the overall recruitment passes through the park. To avoid River has been gradually changing its with rhinos, wild elephants, constitutional affairs, told the Post. uncertainty over the next meeting of process. Political parties should human-wildlife conflict and reduce course from the main stream of swamp deer and black buck, among “The Supreme Court can also issue the Constitutional Council, a soon arrive at an agreement to fix the number of road accidents involv- Karnali. As a consequence, the water other animals. a ruling to the government calling number of former bureaucrats and the issue.”

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 NATIONAL

BRIEFING

Man dies in hospital after self-immolation bid RAMECHHAP: A 43-year-old man from Manthali Municipality-5, who attempted to self-immolate, died in course of treatment in Kathmandu on Saturday. According to Police Inspector Shreeshankar Shrestha, Hira Bahadur Bhujel of Sunarpani doused his body with kerosene and set himself in fire on Friday. The family members rescued him immediately and rushed to hospital. It was not immediately clear what prompted Shrestha to commit the act, said police.

Same-sex marriage registered NEPALGUNJ: A same-sex marriage has been registered at the ward office of Barbardiya unicipality-10 in Bardiya district. Lalita Chaudhary and Kabita Chaudhary, both aged 30, of Daphaiya village tied the knot as per the Tharu tradition on March 23. The couple registered their marriage at the ward office on March 24. Dammar Bahadur Budha, an employee at the ward office, said that the office registered the same-sex marriage in accordance with the existing legal provisions POST PHOTO: KIRAN PANDAY of the country. An under-construction section of Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track, which is being constructed by the Nepal Army. Once completed, the entire length of the 72.5km road can be travelled in an hour, project officials say. Data collection for national ID card distribution hits snag Against the target to collect the details of 10 million people, the government may only be able to collect the details of 4.4.5 million people because of Covid-19 scare, officials say.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA ing the details of the 10 million population in ment had to change its approach to data collec- lions, the department plans to reach all the KATHMANDU, MARCH 27 the remaining period of the current fiscal year tion—first in densely populated areas before people eligible to vote in the second phase. is impossible.” focussing on sparsely populated hill and moun- Besides accessing government services, the The Covid-19 pandemic has emerged as a set- According to the department, it has collected tain districts. national ID can also be used for voting in back for the plan to collect personal details of details of just 2.5 million individuals so far. In the early months of the fiscal year 2020-21, national elections, according to officials. 10 million people for the National Identification According to Basnet, gathering the details of the department didn’t want to take the risk of The department plans to start distribution Cards with the government admitting that the people living in nine districts—Panchthar, infections during data collection as a person of the national identification cards as early as details of less than half the targeted popula- Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Okhaldhunga, has to give his or her biometric data by touch- early next fiscal year 2021-22. tion could be collected by the end of the cur- Chitwan, Gulmi, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura and ing the machine. Officials said many people “We have already invited global tenders for rent fiscal year. Achham—has been over. touching the same machine could be a medium the procurement of 12 million cards, which we In the first phase, the government had “We are running a data collection campaign for virus transmission and had given up the expect to receive by June if the tender process planned to collect personal details of 10 million in 16 districts and we have plans to collect data initial plan to go to densely populated areas. goes as per the plan,” said Basnet. “We already people in 38 districts and distribute national in a total of 32 districts this fiscal from the 38 POST FILE PHOTO The department then prioritised the sparse- have necessary software and printers to print IDs to them. initially planned,” said Basnet. The biometric smart card will contain personal and ly populated hill and mountain districts where the cards by installing the biometric data.” “We can now collect details of only 4.4.5 mil- The government plans to introduce national biometric details of its bearer. the threat of coronavirus was deemed lower. In November 2018, Home Minister Ram lion people in the current fiscal year if the identification cards that contain personal and The programme gave up its plan to collect data Bahadur Thapa inaugurated the distribution emerging threat of the second wave of corona- biometric details of citizens with a unique of both the thumbs and index fingers, will in Lalitpur’s urban areas but representatives of national identity cards in Panchthar district virus crisis does not hit the country,” said number. The card is to become a key basis for replace the existing citizenship card. visited the rural areas of the district. by handing over the first card to 101-year-old Jitendra Basnet, director general at the the delivery of various government services. The biometric smart card, according to the “In fact, we collected personal data only in Bhagawati Devi Bhandari of Phidim Department of National ID and Civil Once implemented, the card, which bears department, will have multiple applications Pokhara and Hetauda among the large urban Municipality-4. The move came under the pilot Registration. “Our effort to collect details was the holder’s name and surname, address, and can be read by officials using highly secure centres,” said Basnet. programme. As many as 117,000 cards have disrupted till December last year and collect- father’s name, mother’s name, photo and prints terminals. Due to the pandemic, the govern- After collecting the data on about 10 mil- been issued so far. Law implementation remains weak in cases of caste-based discrimination A report says police are reluctant to register cases. And even if cases get registered, they lack evidence to back up the claims, which results in low conviction rate.

BINOD GHIMIRE crimination and untouchability say a report together with advocate Raju KATHMANDU, MARCH 27 large number of such cases don’t Chapagain, chair of the Constitutional reach courts as there is a tendency to Lawyers’ Forum, said the flaws in the Among 45 cases related to caste-based settle the incidents at the community Act too have partially hampered its discrimination and untouchability level while the police refuse to register effective implementation. He said the lodged at the district courts in the fis- complaints. penalty doesn’t fit the crime as the cal year 2018-19, the accused were con- “I can say hardly around 20 percent maximum imprisonment is hardly victed in only 21 cases. The accused in of such incidents reach the court,” three years while the Act also doesn’t only three of the 17 cases handled by Shyam Bishwakarma, an advocate, provide legal protection for the vic- the High Court got convicted while the told Post. “And, the accused in around tims and witnesses. Supreme Court overturned the only half of the cases are acquitted, which “The accused don’t need to be in case filed to it in the same fiscal year. is even more disappointing.” judicial custody as the Criminal Code Records at the Office of the Attorney A report presented at the makes judicial custody mandatory General show while the success rate Parliamentary Committee on Law and only in cases that have imprisonment for other cases in courts stands at 80 Justice on Wednesday about the status for three or more years,” he said. “It percent on an average, it is hardly 55 of the implementation of the Act is, therefore, necessary to increase percent for caste-based discrimination blames the weakness in the investiga- the penalty.” and untouchability. tion and prosecution for the low con- The lawyers also find a problem in The Act on Caste-Based viction rate. the statute of limitation which is just Discrimination and Untouchability The report says that first the police three months. They say as the perpe- enforced in 2011 criminalises that are reluctant in filing the cases and trators in most of the cases have a form of discrimination and untoucha- even when the cases are filed they are high social status, the victims of the bility with provisions of imprison- very weak without needed evidence to discrimination and untouchability ment for up to three years. However, establish, which results in the low don’t, in most of the case, file the its implementation remains weak. conviction rate. cases immediately. They say the stat- Activists advocating against dis- Bishwakarma, who prepared the ute of limitation must be one year. Chapagain said there should be a penalty for the police officials who refuse to register the cases and those who settle such cases at the communi- ty level. “The government declared the country as untouchability-free but it has failed to create an environment to ensure that the declaration pre- vails,” he told the Post. The govern- ment in 2006 declared Nepal as an untouchability-free nation and crimi- nalised the discriminatory practice. He says the fact that the govern- ment took six years since the Act was promulgated to prepare its regulation shows its reluctance towards its effec- tive implementation. The regulation is a must for the implementation of the Act. The House committee has endorsed the report and has decided to direct the respective government entities to act for necessary revisions in the law. Taking part in the deliberation on the report in the parliamentary com- mittee, Minister for Law and Justice Lilanath Shrestha said lack of infor- mation about the Act is a reason behind its weak implementation. “The three tiers of the government can work together for its effective implementation,” he told the meeting. “I believe the law alone is inadequate to end the crime. We need to focus POST FILE PHOTO on awareness. The government is Nepal Dalit Association holds a rally in Kathmandu demanding justice for the Dalit youths ready to incorporate it in textbooks killed in Rukum (West) in a gruesome act of caste-based violence last year. as well.”

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 | 04 OPINION Writing plays on Buddhist themes Buddhism is a grand positive, poetic and secular mantra that creates a passage for the quest for peace and sanity.

ABHI SUBEDI WORDS & ECHOES

The organiser of Buddha Theatre Festival March 2021, Pushkar Gurung, artistic director of Dabali Theatre, tossed me a minuscule storm, as it were, when he asked me to write a paper on my ‘Buddha plays’ for the seminar of the festival. In that cyclone of memories, I felt I was trying to find a ground to stand. I have written four plays with Buddha theme in different years of the twenty-first century start- ing from 2003 when I wrote Agniko Katha translated as ‘Fire in the Monastery’ which, according to its director Sunil Pokharel, is my mag- num opus. They opened Gurukul Theatre with this play the same year. Sunil and Arohan Gurukul showed this play in India and several cities of Europe including Moscow. I will just mention why I wrote the Buddha plays and how they did catch up with the times. One reason why I chose to write plays with a Buddha theme was that the period when I wrote them was very turbulent in Nepal. The Maoist insurgency had completely reversed the familiar course of history. The democratically elected government had never realised that the normal course of a parliamentary system of government would be challenged by a SHUTTERSTOCK very strong kind of alterity in politics, of poetic admixture of various ele- After many weeks of performance tre waiting for him to show perhaps English by Shiva Rijal and Carol without meeting me, which hurts. But culture, system of perception and ments. Gyurme Sultrim, Khenpo of Sechen his displeasure. Towards the end of Davies, Nepali and American academ- I have seen a good dream for you. You management. An order of violence I, therefore, mixed turbulence with Monastery, Boudha came to see the the play, the main Lama gives gyaan ics respectively. It is about the Maoist will have good days ahead!’ After the became the new norm. For the writ- calm for which I drew strength from play accompanied by a group of speech to the monks and nuns gath- insurgency, the very encounter with show of the play directed by Nisha ers, theatre people, academics and art- the essential teachings of the Buddha monks and scholars. I was a little ered at the moment of Drubchen—a violence and war. But again I have Sharma, a few Maoist boys took me ists, in particular, this period did not for a meaningful life. My use of the nervous about that. As my play was meditative retreat. I put Zen-like poet- chosen to work with the grand power down the hill of Gurukul in the dark. show any foreseeable order. We were Buddhist theme was not shaped by brimming with life and softer feelings ry into his mouth because that was my of life, with the poetic confidence and I followed them with some misgivings. embroiled in a new kind of reality any hard-core epistemology about about the relationship between the strength and my understanding of energy of peace. Mayadevi, an elderly Instead, the boys expressed gratitude that was a mixture of hope, uncertain- Buddhism. But I felt the first major young monk and nun, though that was Buddhism as a consonance of poetry, woman who has lost her husband, an to me for saying good things about ty and creativity, to be sure. We chose challenge when a youthful monk only a brief expression of feelings, I knowledge and vision. The Khenpo Indian soldier, in some war, has one them. various ways for that; chose named Gyan decides to go out in felt the Khenpo would be upset. To turned back and saw me waiting for son who has become a Maoist guerril- As this article is a short edition of various genres for writing. I chose to search of greater meaning in spiritual prepare him beforehand I said, his response. His face was all smiles la. A friend of his comes for shelter at my long paper about my ecstasy and write plays with Buddha as the main quest after fire burns most of the ‘Khenpo, this play has come out very and he looked very calm. He said, ‘yes, Mayadevi’s small house one evening experience of writing plays with a theme. Agniko Katha was the major library of the monastery. I was not well’. He said, ‘undoubtedly, because it that is what Buddhism is all about!’ If of the battle. He takes the elderly Buddha theme, I want to put my con- oeuvre in which I tried to create a quite sure where he would go, but set- is written by a scholar.’ I said, ‘No, that moment were to be captured and mother to see the battlefield directly clusion in these words. Writing plays consonance of poetry, philosophy, tled that he would go to Kailash, Khenpo, it has come out well not accentuated as the English poet John that night. The elderly woman in a with a Buddhist theme for a person political vision, violence and a sense Mansarovar. A nun from the nearby because of my scholarship but Keats says, I would have become a full- dream that night becomes Mayadevi like me is like opening new frontiers of amelioration. In other words, I monastery also shows her desire for because of my ignorance’. Because of time Buddhist seeker. who gives birth to the future of understanding Buddhism by evok- chose a medium in which I could write the exit, but that was not possible. She my ignorance about the great Buddhist Out of the three other plays with a Buddha on her way to Kapilvastu. ing the power of poetry, life and theol- about everything. But writing a play is sadly bids him farewell. I did not know scholarship and formulas, I had taken Buddhist theme, I would like to men- When she wakes up, she finds that her ogy. Buddhism to me, and to many different from writing any other how to face that storm of life when a recourse to poetry, and a sense of tion my experience about writing son and comrades have come to take others, is a grand positive, poetic and genre. It is written for performance. monk and nun feel there is something ecstasy to compensate for that. another major play entitled with them the boy taking shelter in secular mantra that creates a passage Not being a theologian or a Buddhist very powerful shaking them. This play I sat behind him and his flock Mayadevika Sapanaa or the ‘Dreams her house. Mayadevi says to her flee- for the quest for peace, love and sanity scholar, my forte was to create a kind was successfully performed. throughout the show at Gurukul thea- of Mayadevi’, now translated into ing son, ‘my darling, you are leaving in the mad times.

America’s presidential pardon is a royal mess

provisions were eventually dropped US judges would do well to before it became law, not least because of then-US President-elect Joe Biden’s learn from how the UK’s strenuous objections. But the outcry the legislation generated has not courts have chipped away at deterred Johnson from continuing along the same path. In its draft legis- executive prerogative. lation to repeal the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, for example, the gov- ernment once more has included an NICHOLAS REED LANGEN ouster clause, telling the courts that calling elections is a matter for politi- cians, not judges. The Johnson government’s resent- ment of judicial scrutiny is under- standable, given its tendency to return bloodied and bruised from its encoun- ters with the courts. But in a liberal Donald Trump left his worst offences democracy, a government that contin- against American democracy and the ually loses in the courts must stop US presidency almost until the end of behaving unlawfully, not strip away his single term in office, when he the judiciary’s power. refused to recognise his opponent’s But behaving lawfully is something election victory and summoned a mob that Johnson, like Trump, seems loath to storm the Capitol. But his final to do. The government’s Independent acts—amply availing himself of the Review of Administrative Law, which presidential pardon power—were is due to release its report this week, nearly as egregious. Gleefully doling was clearly concerned with how out executive clemency to more than Parliament could limit judicial scruti- 140 people in the last 12 hours of his ny. Likewise, the terms of reference of presidency—including to Steve the Independent Human Rights Act Bannon, his former chief strategist Review show a government obsessed turned con man—Trump, thwarted in with whether human rights interfere his effort to overturn the election with executive ambition. result, clearly revelled in this last The US Supreme Court—whose con- kingly prerogative. servative justices tend to espouse It is curious that presidents possess adherence to the founders’ ‘original such unaccountable power at all. intent’—would do well to learn from America’s founders rejected absolute the UK judiciary’s readiness to inno- monarchy and its trappings (such as SHUTTERSTOCK vate in the face of a monarchically noble titles), and yet the pardon power is put it. But Monroe wasn’t reckoning and held that it was up to the courts to at bringing about a form of Brexit that such provisions are often coupled inclined executive. In particular, the descended from just such a monarchical on senators being in thrall to a dema- decide if the power could be reviewed. MPs would not endorse, was lawful. with clauses that attempt to limit, or UK Supreme Court’s willingness to power, the royal prerogative of mercy. gogue or binding themselves to tribal But the courts were wary of asserting Regardless of the fact that calling and ‘oust,’ the judiciary’s ability to review recognise the spirit and purpose of In its original form, this prerogative partisan loyalties, as the overwhelm- too much authority, and in cases dismissing Parliament is an archetypal decisions made by ministers wielding constitutional principles while still gave British monarchs the near-un- ing majority of Republicans did in where the power related to ‘high poli- prerogative power, the justices unani- these powers. applying a coherent and consistent checked authority to pardon those Trump’s two impeachment trials. cy,’ affecting matters like foreign mously ruled that because the proroga- This lust for power reached its cur- interpretation of the law enhances its convicted of crimes. Much like the To align the pardon power with its affairs or armed conflict, they were tion frustrated Parliament’s ability to rent peak last autumn in the Johnson ability to respond to novel challenges. presidential pardon, it did not fully original purpose, Americans should usually slow to intervene. ‘carry out its constitutional functions government’s proposed Internal Trump’s blatant violation of the exculpate the guilty by erasing their consider how the United Kingdom’s Yet, in recent decades, the UK judi- as a legislature and ... [supervise] the Market Bill, which concerned domestic original intent of the presidential par- conviction, but it did save them from courts have slowly chipped away at ciary has become increasingly unwill- executive,’ it exceeded the ‘lawful lim- regulation after Brexit. Although don was just one of many challenges its worst effects—most often a death the executive’s use of most, if not all, ing to allow governments to ride its of the power.’ many members of the government had he posed to the political system estab- sentence. In theory, the prerogative of the royal prerogative powers by roughshod and scrutiny-free over core Even as UK courts have whittled extolled Brexit as an opportunity to lished by the US Constitution. Johnson was a benign tool to remedy injustice subjecting them to ever-greater judi- democratic principles by proclaiming away at the scope of the prerogative, restore Parliament’s ‘sovereignty,’ the displays similarly worrying traits. and highlight royal benevolence; in cial scrutiny. ‘high policy.’ In fact, the UK Supreme ruling on previously untouchable mat- bill sought to bypass the legislature Faced with such threats, courts and reality, it was always ripe for abuse. In the 1980s, the House of Lords Court’s decision in a seminal 2019 ters, British governments have sought entirely, instead giving ministers the legislatures need to recall their true Given that America’s founders (whose judicial functions were trans- Brexit case, Cherry/Miller (No.2), to acquire new unchecked powers. It is power to rule by decree. It also sought purpose: preventing the unchecked understood this danger, their refusal ferred to the newly established UK demonstrates that little remains of now common for legislation to author- to prevent judicial review of any deci- exercise of executive power. to place more effective checks on the Supreme Court in 2009) found that the inviolable prerogative. ise ministers to ‘amend, repeal, or sions made by ministers under the executive looks naive. They trusted simply because a government minis- In that case, the Court was asked if replace’ parts of the statute, or related statute, while permitting them to make Langen edits the LSE Public Policy that giving Congress the power to ter was relying upon a prerogative Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pro- statutes, if doing so suits the legisla- decisions that violated human rights, Review and writes on the British impeach the president would serve as power did not make it ‘for that reason posed long prorogation (suspension) of tion’s overall purpose or the govern- and, infamously, international law. constitution for The Justice Gap. ‘a great security,’ as James Monroe only ... immune from judicial review,’ Parliament, which was clearly aimed ment’s broader objectives. Moreover, Fortunately, the bill’s most odious — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 MONEY

FOREX

US Dollar 116.32 Construction projects in west Nawalparasi running late Euro 137.18

Pound Sterling 160.35 The projects are way behind schedule because of the carelessness of the contractors and poor planning.

Japanese Yen 10.62 NABIN POUDEL ject, only 10 percent of the work has Chinese Yuan 17.79 PARASI, MARCH 27 been completed. The contractor said that they have Qatari Riyal 31.76 Most infrastructure construction to hire Indian technicians because all Australian Dollar 88.59 projects in west Nawalparasi have the work cannot be done by Nepali run into time and cost overruns workers. Covid-19 prevented them Malaysian Ringit 28.05 largely due to delinquent contractors, from bringing the technicians which officials said. caused the delay, the contractor said. Saudi Arab Riyal 31.02 The projects are way behind sched- Ram Prasad Pandey, chairman of Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank ule because of the carelessness of the Susta Rural Municipality-4, said they contractors and poor planning. re-started work last December after PRICE PER TOLA According to government officials, summoning the contractor that had BULLION the contractors of many projects gone absent. have been repeatedly extending the “The federal, provincial and local Fine Gold Rs 86,300 completion deadline. Besides, the rush governments have issued directives to job at the last hour raises questions expedite the construction work,” he Silver Rs 1,230 about the quality of the construction, said. The Narayangarh-Butwal Road they said. Expansion Project is also facing SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA In order to make the district head- delays. The project said that workers quarters more organised, the govern- had almost finished cutting the trees ment had invited bids to widen 1.5 km in the western section of Daune. GASOLINE WATCH of road. With the approval of the Tilottama The tenders were evaluated and the Sub-Divisional Forest Office of contract was awarded. The starting Rupandehi, 5,600 trees have been cut date for the Rs160.80 million construc- POST PHOTO: NABIN POUDEL down. The project has obtained tion project was set for June 2017. According to government officials, the contractors of many projects have been repeatedly extending the completion deadline. Besides, the rush approval to cut down 10,000 trees from But the winning contractor, job at the last hour raises questions about the quality of the construction, they said. Bardaghat to Butwal in the western Mahalakshmi-Sunkoshi Worldwide section of the Narayangarh-Butwal JV Kathmandu, showed up for work tion to the project owner.” Shivashakti JV for Rs250.19 million. “We have started work. But Road Expansion Project. only three and a half years after sign- Katuwal said that the time limit of A number of culverts have been we are not getting adequate gravel Yuvraj Pandey, information officer ing the contract. the project was two years, but three built and gravel has been laid on some and sand,” Karki said. “We are in con- of the project’s western section, said The contractor has only started and a half years had already passed sections. Several sections have been stant contact with locals for the that 3,000 trees remain to be cut down. blacktopping the road, fearing that the when the company started work. “So blacktopped too. The contractor for supply of the construction materials,” “We have planned to cut the rest of the contract deadline would expire. The we can’t extend the deadline.” the Parasi-Gopiganj postal road pro- he added. trees in a few days. Work has been last time limit to complete the project Locals are irate at the delay as they ject said gravel and sand shortages Four years ago, workers started held up due to the pandemic and the was mid-January. have to travel over the dusty and pot- had held back work. building a suspension bridge over the delay in issuing the permit to cut the Madhav Katuwal, engineer at holed road due to the unfinished con- Construction work started in Narayani River in Susta Rural trees,” he said. Provincial Urban Development and struction work. February 2017 and it was slated to be Municipality-4 , but progress has been But Pandey emphasised that con- Building Construction, said they did Other large projects in the district completed by February 2020. dead slow. The project launched in struction work on the bridges and not extend the deadline after work are also in a similar condition. The Work on the 9-km-long Kathhawa- December 2016 with a completion culverts had gained momentum. As stopped twice. construction of the postal road has Belatari section of the postal road has deadline of December 2018. per the plan, 30 new bridges need to be “As per the law, the government can been delayed for years. also slowed to a crawl. Pradip Karki, a Trishuli Ashraya JV, the contractor built in Daune West, including nine extend the contract period stated in The contract for the construction representative for the contractor for responsible for building the suspen- big and 21 small bridges. the agreement by 50 percent at the of the 13-km-long Parasi-Gopiganj the Kathhawa-Belatari section, said sion bridge, had also gone out of con- The project said that 246 culverts most,” he said. “If the company section of the postal road was award- the main reason for the delay was a tact. According to Ashok Kumar have to be built on the Narayangarh- fails to deliver, it has to pay compensa- ed to Kanchenjunga-Beeruva shortage of gravel and sand. Mandal, engineer for the bridge pro- Butwal road. India gold activity slows Millions without formal employment in Brazil as dealers close the books thrown back into poverty as pandemic aid dries up

REUTERS much more difficult since, with six the country’s poorer classes and fers of an average 250 reais to a nar- BRASILIA, MARCH 27 children to raise,” she said. regions, which has since retreated. rower set of informal workers. Millions of Brazilians like her were Pollster Datafolha showed disap- Its 42 billion reais price tag is a Tatiana Araujo de Sirqueira, a 33-year briefly lifted out of poverty only to be proval of Bolsonaro in Brazil’s poorer fraction of the 322 billion reais ($58 old single mother of six, and Brazilian tossed back again. The national pover- northeast outpaced his approval by 16 billion) bill for last year’s aid, which President Jair Bolsonaro are almost ty rate dropped suddenly to 4.5 percent percentage points in April 2020, when was almost 4.5 percent of gross domes- neighbors. But they inhabit different in August from almost 11 percent at the cash transfers began. tic product. universes. the start of 2020, calculates the Getulio That gap shrank to just two points The more modest programme has Sirqueira lives by a landfill less Vargas Foundation. in August, the last month before the eased some concern over the trajecto- than a mile from the Planalto presi- However, the Rio de Janeiro-based maximum 600 reais stipend was ry of Brazil’s public debt, but also dential palace in Brasilia, along with think tank estimates that 12.8 percent halved. By January the gap had narrowed impact on poverty and ine- 36 other families, and scrapes together of Brazil’s population—some 27 mil- rebounded to 15 points, essentially quality rates. cash by recycling trash. lion people—are now living below back to where it began. Joao Saboia, professor emeritus at She is one of Brazil’s 40 million or the poverty line of 246 reais a month, With an eye on next year’s presiden- the Federal University of Rio de so “invisibles,” a term coined by the most since the series began a tial election, Bolsonaro has been so Janeiro, says even with the next round Economy Minister Paulo Guedes for decade ago. keen to extend the programme, even if of cash transfers, poverty rates will those without formal employment The economic impact of the aid was it wreaks havoc on the public financ- remain high. REUTERS who had flown largely under the radar matched by its political punch, revers- es, roils financial markets and irks “The prospects for 2021 are very A saleswoman helps a customer at a jewellery showroom in Mumbai, India. of Brazil’s government—and society. ing Bolsonaro’s dwindling popularity Guedes. poor—slow vaccination, a stagnant “I live beside the president. I see as the first wave of Covid-19 hit and The new aid package, starting in economy, rising unemployment and REUTERS Mumbai-based dealer with a bullion him and his security pass by here winning him record approval among April, will provide four monthly trans- high poverty,” Saboia said. MUMBAI, MARCH 27 importing bank. every day,” she said on a hot, dusty Covid-19 cases jumped to an over afternoon outside her improvised Top Asian hubs saw moderate physi- five-month high in India on Friday. shack. “How can he pass here every cal gold buying this week, with activi- In China, premiums rose to $7.5-$10 day and not see the families here?” ty in India muted as the country’s an ounce over global benchmark Last year, however, Sirqueira was financial year was coming to a close, spot prices, from last week’s $7-$9, not invisible. From April to December, while jewellers kept a wary eye on while Hong Kong dealers reported she and some 66 million other rising coronavirus cases. premiums of $1-$2 versus $0.50-$1.70 Brazilians received the government’s “Bullion dealers and jewellers are previously. most generous cash transfer pro- avoiding buying due to the year end. “We’re seeing some steady demand. gramme ever, emergency aid to They’re busy with closing the books,” If [spot] prices fall below $1,700, we help the most vulnerable through the said Harshad Ajmera, the proprietor might see additional demand,” said pandemic. of JJ Gold House, a wholesaler in the Peter Fung, head of dealing, Wing That nearly $60 billion burst of city of Kolkata. Fung Precious Metals in Hong Kong. basic income softened the economic The Indian fiscal year runs from China’s monthly net gold imports blow of the coronavirus, boosted April to March. via Hong Kong in February were little Bolsonaro’s popularity and beat Dealers charged premiums of up to changed at 4.192 tonnes, as fresh back poverty—but its expiration at the $5 an ounce over official domestic import quotas were not issued by the end of 2020 is unravelling many of prices, inclusive of 10.75 percent central bank. In Singapore, premiums those effects. import and 3 percent sales levies, were unchanged at $1.5-$2. Sirqueira now relies on the pre-ex- down from last week’s $6. “Demand hasn’t been much for gold isting ‘Bolsa Familia’ social benefit of On Friday, local gold futures traded this week but silver has seen some up to 205 reais ($36) a month, about a around 44,500 rupees per 10 grams [interest]” and while investors are see- third of last year’s emergency aid, after touching an 11-month low of ing gold as a safe haven, the muted missing out on a smaller second round 44,150 rupees earlier this month. price action has dimmed their inter- of the cash transfer programme that “Retail demand is steady despite est, said Brian Lan, managing direc- starts in April. rising coronavirus cases, but jewellers tor at dealer GoldSilver Central. “They said I no longer met the crite- are afraid authorities could start In Japan, premiums rose to $1 an ria and so I can no longer be part of REUTERS imposing localized lockdowns,” said a ounce from $0.50-$0.75 last week. the programme. My life has gotten People walk in a popular shopping street in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Spurred by lockdown, Spain gives 4-day week a try

ASSOCIATED PRESS down when she proposed rotational 25 percent each consecutive year, “It’s not using the European funds ism, a backbone of the Spanish econo- el. Some experts argue that the priori- MADRID, MARCH 27 four-day week shifts. Álvarez, a moth- according to a blueprint by the Más for Spaniards to work less, it’s about my. Reducing work hours from 40 to 35 ty should instead be fixing the coun- er of two toddlers, and her startup País progressive party that’s behind seeing how we can improve productiv- per week in 2017 would have resulted try’s dysfunctional labour market, After years of waiting tables, Danae partner at La Francachela had both the initiative. ity and competitiveness of our compa- in a 1.5 percent GDP growth and which is dragging one of Europe’s De Vries is one step closer to achiev- struggled to keep the business going The only condition is that the read- nies,” said Tejero. 560,000 new jobs, a study published highest unemployment rates and is ing her lifetime dream of becoming a with no childcare support. justment leads to a real net reduction Arguments in favour of the move earlier this year in the Cambridge marred by precarious, low-wage jobs. theatre coach. “There was a feeling that society of working hours while maintaining also cite benefits for the overall econo- Journal of Economics found. Salaries ESADE Business School’s Carlos Ironically, she owes that to the pan- had turned its back on families, that full-time contract salaries, explained my. A mass shift to a three-day week- would have also increased nationally Victoria also warned against the one- demic. It was after last year’s brutal we had been betrayed,” explained Héctor Tejero, a lawmaker with Más end would lead to more consumption, by 3.7 percent, especially benefitting size-fits-all approach of the proposal. lockdown that shut the Spanish econo- Álvarez. “As business owners, we had País in the Madrid regional assembly. especially in entertainment and tour- women who more often take part-time “There are probably industries or eco- my down for weeks that the owners of to come up with some solutions for jobs, the research said. nomic areas in which a reduction of a small restaurant chain in Madrid our businesses, our employees and Software Delsol, in southern Spain, working hours won’t necessarily lead offered De Vries to cut her weekly also for our personal lives.” invested 400,000 euros last year to to productivity gains,” the economic work schedule by one day. Experimenting with cutting back reduce working hours for its 190 policy researcher said. Already struggling to make ends one workday per week is about to go employees and has since then report- But Más País argues that it’s best to meet in a city that has seen rental nationwide in Spain—the first coun- ed a 28 percent reduction in absentee- try first and decide later how to scale prices spiral, the 28-year-old was hesi- try in Europe to do so. A three-year ism, with people choosing to go to the it up—or whether to do it at all. tant at first—and then enthusiastic pilot project will be using 50 million bank or see their doctor on their Still, not all unions are fully back- when she was told her wages would euros ($59 million) from the European weekday off. Their sales increased last ing the plan, conservatives have been remain untouched. Union’s massive coronavirus recovery year by 20 percent and no single defensive and CEOE, the main Spanish “Now I have time to work, to see my fund to compensate some 200 mid-size employee has quit since the new business association, has so far offered family and friends, and to find enough companies as they resize their schedule was adopted. a lukewarm response to the project. time to study,” she said. “It’s marvel- workforce or reorganize production Critics say that a pandemic-shaken Nevertheless, at least half a dozen lous to have time, to not rush every- workflows to adapt to a 32-hour work- economy is not the best scenario for companies have already reached out where and find a bit of inner peace.” ing week. experiments. With a 10.8 percent GDP expressing interest, according to A happier and more motivated De The funds will go to subsidizing all contraction last year, its worst since Tejero, who said the pilot won’t be Vries is also better for her boss María of the employers’ extra costs in the the 1930s Civil War, Spain has suffered launched at least until September, Álvarez, the entrepreneur who turned first year of the trial and then reduce AP/RSS from intermittent lockdowns and the when and if mass vaccination helps her two-restaurant business upside- the government’s aid to 50 percent and Waiter Sara Palacios serves customers at La Francachela restaurant in Madrid, Spain. near-total freeze in international trav- revive the economy.

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Modi’s party seeks big win as Iran, China sign strategic Belarus warns demonstrators cooperation agreement of criminal charges as fresh two key Indian states vote protests brew ASSOCIATED PRESS Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for MOSCOW: Belarus authorities warned TEHRAN, MARCH 27 Iran’s Foreign Ministry, on Friday on Saturday that anyone participat- In West Bengal and Assam, BJP is banking on its Hindu nationalist ideology to draw votes. called the agreement “deep, multi-lay- ing in protests is liable to criminal Iran and China on Saturday signed a er and full-fledged.” prosecution, as armoured vehicles 25-year strategic cooperation agree- The deal, which had been discussed and police buses moved into the cen- ASSOCIATED PRESS ment addressing economic issues since 2016, also supports tourism and tre of Minsk ahead of an expected NEW DELHI, MARCH 27 amid crippling US sanctions on Iran, cultural exchanges. It comes on the new round of protests. Opposition fig- state TV reported. 50th anniversary of the establishment ures, who have led demonstrations Two Indian states with sizeable The agreement dubbed the of diplomatic relations between China against President Alexander Muslim populations began voting in Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and Iran. Lukashenko since an election they local elections Saturday in a test of covers a variety of economic activity The two countries have had warm deemed rigged in August last year, strength for Prime Minister Narendra from oil and mining to promoting relations and both took part in a joint have recently called on the public to Modi, whose Hindu nationalist agen- industrial activity in Iran, as well as naval exercise in 2019 with Russia in ramp up protests once again, after a da is being challenged by months of transportation and agricultural col- the northern Indian Ocean. two-month lull. The Minsk farmer protests and a fresh wave of laborations, according to the report. Reportedly, Iran and China have Investigative Committee warned that the pandemic. No additional details of the agree- done some $20 billion in trade annual- protesters could face criminal charg- Top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, ment were revealed as Iran’s Foreign ly in recent years. That’s down from es, and said it had opened a case including Modi, have campaigned Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and nearly $52 billion in 2014, however, against the authors of posts on the heavily to win West Bengal for the Chinese counterpart Wang Yi took because of a decline in oil prices and Telegram messenger app that called first time and dislodge the state’s part in a ceremony marking the event. US sanctions imposed in 2018 after for people to go out on the streets. chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, as The deal marked the first time Iran then-President Donald Trump pulled well as retain power in northeastern has signed such a lengthy agreement the US unilaterally out of a nuclear Assam state. with a major world power. In 2001, Iran deal between Iran and world powers, Four Syrians found frozen to The BJP has for years been accused and Russia singed a 10-year coopera- saying it needed to be renegotiated. of stoking religious polarisation and tion agreement, mainly in the nuclear Iran has pulled away from restric- death in eastern Lebanon discriminating against minorities, field, that was lengthened to 20 years tions imposed under the deal under BEIRUT: Four Syrians, two women and faces stiff challenges in both through two five-year extensions. those sanctions in order to put pres- and two children, were found dead states with populations that are nearly AP/RSS Before the ceremony Saturday, Yi sure on the other signatories— on Friday in eastern Lebanon after 30 percent Muslim. Nationwide, Voters stand on marked areas maintaining social distance as they wait to cast their votes at a met Iranian President Hassan Germany, France, Britain, Russia and having gone missing, the governor Muslims comprise nearly 14 percent polling booth during first phase elections in West Bengal, India on Saturday. Rouhani and special Iranian envoy in China—to provide new economic of Lebanon’s Baalbek and Hermel of the 1.4 billion people, while Hindus charge of the deal Ali Larijani. incentives to offset US sanctions. region tweeted. The four were found, make up 80 percent. atmosphere of tension and fear,” Sing of 70 million voters. frozen to death, after a search “The BJP’s success depends on if it said. Kailash Vijayvargia, a BJP leader, operation by the Lebanese civil is able to polarise Hindu votes to a In West Bengal, rival groups have rejected Banerjee’s criticism and said defence, army and security forces, huge extent, and get half of the attacked each other with sticks and she was just rattled by the growing Bachir Khodr said. “An investigation 70 percent of Hindu votes,” said Subir rocks, and set vehicles on fire during popularity of BJP in the state. will be launched into the Lebanese Bhowmik, a political analyst. campaigning. Images of a fiery In West Bengal and Assam, the WHO urges countries to donate individual who was with them The elections are seen as crucial for Banerjee, who’s been addressing mas- BJP is banking on its strong Hindu previously to see if this was human the BJP to gain a foothold in the north- sive crowds from a wheelchair after a nationalist ideology to draw votes. smuggling or not,” he said. Lebanon east and south. leg injury, have set the tone for a tough The party is trying to galvanise Hindu vaccines as supplies tighten has more than a million Syrian The vote comes as tens of thou- battle. support by promising to deport hun- refugees who have fled their homes sands of farmers have rattled Modi’s Banerjee heads a powerful regional dreds of thousands of Bangladeshi REUTERS demand,” Tedros told a news confer- since the beginning of the Syrian government with prolonged protests party, the All India Trinamool Muslims who fled their homes dec- GENEVA, MARCH 27 ence. “Ten million doses is not much conflict in 2011. on the fringes of the capital, New Congress, which came to power 10 ades ago. and it’s not nearly enough. Delhi. And India’s economy is still years ago years after unseating more The BJP also enacted a controver- The World Health Organization urged India, the world’s biggest vaccine struggling to emerge out of the coro- than three decades of Communist sial citizenship law in 2019 that pro- countries on Friday to donate Covid-19 maker, said on Friday it would make Amid Modi visit, Facebook navirus crisis—another pivotal chal- Party rule. vides a fast track to naturalisation for vaccine doses to inoculate the most domestic inoculations a priority. The restricted in Bangladesh lenge for Modi, who came into office On Saturday, Banerjee objected to some migrants who entered illegally vulnerable in 20 poorer nations after move will hit COVAX supplies as some COX’S BAZAR: Social network Facebook partly on promises of economic devel- Modi visiting a Matua Hindu commu- while fleeing religious persecution. India, a key supplier to the agency’s of AstraZeneca’s vaccine is produced and its messaging app have been opment—just as cases are rising again nity leader’s temple during his visit to But it excludes Muslims, which critics COVAX vaccine-sharing programme, by the Serum Institute of India. down in Bangladesh since Friday, even as a massive vaccination cam- neighbouring Bangladesh, where he is say is discriminatory and a violation said it was prioritising local needs. Tedros thanked India for its exports the US tech giant said on Saturday, paign has begun. participating in the country’s 50th of India’s constitution. WHO Director-General Tedros so far and said the move was “under- as protesters oppose Indian Prime Thousands of paramilitary soldiers anniversary of independence. In southern India, Modi’s BJP party Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the standable” given rising infections. He Minister Narendra Modi’s two day and local police were guarding voting A large number of Matya communi- is vying for a third spot in Kerala, COVAX programme, run with the added that talks with India were visit to the country. Four people were stations to prevent clashes between ty members live in Orakandi in currently ruled by a Communist GAVI vaccine alliance, needed 10 mil- underway to find a balance between killed on Friday after police opened rival supporters. Bangladesh. Modi on Saturday prayed Party-led government. And in legisla- lion doses immediately to inoculate local and international needs. fire after protesters allegedly Manmohan Singh, a former prime at the Matua temple during his two- tive elections in Tamil Nadu, both the healthcare workers and older people So far COVAX has delivered 32 mil- attacked a police station in the city minister and an opposition Congress day visit to Bangladesh. The commu- BJP and Congress have allied with as a stop-gap measure. lion vaccine doses to 61 countries, but of Chittagong during a demonstra- party leader, criticised the BJP’s nity members live in both India and powerful regional parties as junior “COVAX is ready to deliver but we 36 countries still await vaccines to tion against Modi’s visit. “We’re Hindu nationalism, saying that socie- Bangladesh. partners. can’t deliver vaccines we don’t have. start inoculations, he said. working to understand more and ty was being divided on the basis of Banerjee accused him of trying to Voting in Kerala and Tamil Nadu Bilateral deals, export bans, vaccine Tedros has said countries should hope to have full access restored as religion, culture and language. influence the voting by the Matua and the Union Territory of nationalism and vaccine diplomacy work together to ensure vaccinations soon as possible,” Facebook said “The basic rights of the common community in West Bengal state, Puducherry will be held next month have caused distortions in the market begin everywhere across the world man are being denied and there is an where they comprise nearly 10 million with all the results declared May 2. with gross inequities in supply and within the first 100 days of 2021. in a statement. (AGENCIES)

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Nepal through to final after goalless England ‘blow Army to play Kyrgyzstan today India away’ to level KATHMANDU: ‘A’ Division outfit Tribhuvan Army Club will play a stalemate against Bangladesh ODI series 1-1 friendly football match against Kyrgyzstan U-23 team on Sunday, as part of their preparation for the AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE upcoming 2021 AFC Cup play-off Both teams reach the final of the Three Nations Cup having failed to score a single goal of their own. PUNE, MARCH 27 matches. The Kyrgyz youths, who lost 1-0 to Bangladesh on Tuesday and Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes launched a six-hit- played a 0-0 draw against Nepal two ting feast as England chased down 337 against India days later, could not qualify for the in a series-levelling win in the second one-day inter- Three Nations Cup final after the national on Friday with home skipper Virat Kohli hosts played a goalless draw with the admitting: “We didn’t have a chance”. Bengal Tigers in the final group Bairstow (124) and Stokes (99) put on 175 for the match on Saturday. Nepal and second wicket and smashed 17 sixes between them Bangladesh will meet again in the as England romped home in 43.3 overs with six wick- final on Monday. Army will host Sri ets to spare in Pune. The three-match series is now Lanka Police SC in their first play-off level at 1-1 with the decider on Sunday. match at the Dasharath Stadium on “It was some of the most amazing batting you’ll April 7. If Army beat Sri Lanka see when chasing,” India skipper Virat Kohli said of Police, they will face India’s Super the England onslaught. “They totally blew us away League side Bengaluru FC on April 14 during that partnership of Jonny and Ben Stokes. in Goa. A win against Bengaluru will We didn’t even have a chance during that partner- secure Army a spot in the April 21 ship.” play-off final. Their final opponents The left-handed Stokes, who hit 10 sixes in his will be decided from the winners 52-ball blitz, missed out on his hundred after being among Maldivian Eagles, Bhutan’s caught behind off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Thimphu City and Bangladeshi club Bairstow fell to Prasidh Krishna, who also bowled Abahani Limited Dhaka. The winners stand-in-skipper Jos Buttler for a duck. of the play-off will join India’s ATK England lost three wickets for three runs, but Mohun Bagan, Bangladesh’s Dawid Malan (16) and debutant Liam Livingstone Bashundhara Kings and Maldives’ (27) took the team home with an unbroken stand of Maziya in Group ‘D’. The winners of 50. It was England’s fifth-highest ODI chase and the tournament will automatically their best against India. qualify for the 2022 Asian Champions Bairstow, who was named man of the match, led League. ‘A’ Division runners-up Army the charge, tearing into the Indian attack with a 110- are competing in the AFC Cup for the run opening stand with Jason Roy, who made 55. Roy first time instead of champions was run out for 55 in a mix up with Bairstow, who Machhindra Club as the departmen- then combined with Stokes to trump KL Rahul’s 108 tal side are the only club to fulfil the that helped India to 336-6 in 50 overs after being put AFC club licensing criteria. (SB) in to bat first. Bairstow reached his 11th ODI hundred in 95 balls with a six off Kuldeep Yadav, who also took a ham- Rashford, Saka ruled out of mering from Stokes, the Durham left-hander ham- mering him for three successive sixes in one over as England’s World Cup qualifiers he raced from 50 to 99 in just 12 balls. LONDON: England will be without “Over the years, we have set big totals, we have striker Marcus Rashford and winger chased big totals,” said Stokes. “We don’t really fear Bukayo Saka for their World Cup too much to be honest.” qualifiers against Albania and Poland POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA Buttler echoed the views of regular captain Eoin due to injury, the FA said on Friday. Nepal’s Ranjit Dhimal (right) and Bangladesh’s Riyadul Hasan battle for the ball during their Three Nations Cup football match at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwor. Morgan, who was ruled out of the final two ODIs Rashford missed the 5-0 win over San with a split webbing in his hand, about England’s Marino at Wembley on Thursday SPORTS BUREAU against Chinese Taipei in September 2019 dur- 23-member squad, said: “We achieved our goal aggressive brand of play. “Delighted with the after joing the England camp with a KATHMANDU, MARCH 27 ing an away match of the World Cup and Asian to give exposure to maximum players and pre- response of the guys,” said Buttler. “We put in a very foot problem and will continue his Cup joint qualifiers. pare for three matches [World Cup Qualifiers in good bowling performance to restrict India to that rehabilitation with his club Hosts Nepal played a 0-0 stalemate against “We have had problems in attacking third for June].” total. I am delighted that we continued to commit to Manchester United, the FA added in a Bangladesh in the final group match of the a long time,” attributed Nepal’s coach Bal Gopal Home team forward Anjan Bista wasted a the fashion we want to play our cricket.” statement. Arsenal’s Saka remained Three Nations Cup at the Dasharath Stadium Maharjan. “I hope we will break the goal golden scoring opportunity in the 21st Earlier Rahul was involved in century stands with at the London club for further assess- on Saturday to set up the title decider against drought in the final.” minute after his free header from the area in Kohli, who made 66, and then Rishabh Pant, who ment on a hamstring issue and will the same South Asian opponents. He, however, was satisfied with his team’s Tridev Gurung’s perfect cross sailed above the smashed a rapid 77. now also miss the Group I games in Bangladesh, who had already booked final performance. “The boys played as per the match bar. In the 24th, Gurung tapped wide from close Reece Topley sent back Shikhar Dhawan caught at Albania on Sunday and at home to spot after a 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan U-23, topped plan as we came into the match setting an ambi- range in a short pass set by forward Avishek slip for four and fellow quick Sam Curran got Rohit Poland on Wednesday. (REUTERS) the group with four points after a win and a tion of not losing points and we are finally Rijal. Sharma out for 25. Kohli and Rahul put on 121 for the draw. Nepal secured two points, one more than through to the final.” Five minutes before the break Bangladesh second wicket to lay the foundations of India’s chal- the central Asian country, to finish runners up. Nepal’s vice captain and man-of-the-match skipper Jamal Bhuyan’s 30-yard freekick sailed lenging total. Tendulkar tests positive for virus Both the finalists, however, made it to the Rohit Chand said they should be happy to have above the crossbar. Kohli, who was dropped on 35 by Buttler off Adil MUMBAI: Indian cricket great Sachin final without scoring a single goal on their own secured a place in the final. Winger Sunil Bal and midfielder Bishal Rai Rashid, completed his fifth fifty in seven interna- Tendulkar has tested positive for the as Bangladesh had defeated Kyrgyz age group Not only the home team, but their South came as second half replacements of Ravi tional innings before being finally caught by Buttler coronavirus and is quarantining at team on the back of an own goal. Asian opponents were also exposed in the fin- Shankar Paswan and Sanjog Rai. In the 59th, off Rashid. home. The 47-year-old Tendulkar, Test Hosts Nepal came up with the same starting ishing line-up. Though they came up with a forward Bista ended up applying a feeble shot Rahul, who made an unbeaten 62 in India’s win in cricket’s all time leading run-scorer, XI they played against the Kyrgyz youth team, much better and organised performance in from the area in Bal’s pass providing an easy the opening game on Tuesday, reached his fifth ODI reported Saturday that he tested giving official international debut to three play- comparison to their last outing against opportunity for Bangladesh goalie Md Sahidul hundred. He put on 113 for the third wicket with positive “following mild symptoms.” ers including midfielders Tridev Gurung and Kyrgyzstan, they never looked dangerous at the Alam to grab it. In the 65th, Avishek Bista head- Pant before he was caught off Tom Curran. His 114- “I’ve quarantined myself at home and Sanjog Rai, and also introducing defender opposition’s post. ed wide from the edge of the six-yard box in ball knock included seven fours and two sixes. am following all the necessary proto- Nishan Khadka as substitute in the second half. “Both sides have problems in the scoring Ranjit Dhimal cross. Pant reached his fifty with a six and smashed cols as advised by my doctors,” he Nepal created nearly half a dozen scoring department and it has been a long time that we Forward Darshan Gurung and defender seven sixes in his 40-ball blitz. said on Twitter. Tendulkar, who chances but repeated their problem in the have problems scoring. It will be nice to score in Nishan Khadka came in the 71st minute replac- Hardik Pandya hit 35 off 16 balls as India finished scored 15,921 runs in Test cricket, attacking department and went goalless in the the final,” Bangladesh’s British coach James ing Avishek Rijal and defender Dhimal. In the with a flourish, scoring 126 runs from the last 10 retired in 2013 after playing his 200th eighth match in a row including the game Day said. “It was a tight competition.” 82nd minute, substitute Gurung’s header in overs, but the effort was not enough on a Test match. (REUTERS) against Kyrgyzstan. They had last scored The Brition, who used 22 players from the Dinesh Rajbanshi throw ball hit the bar. batting-friendly pitch. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** This time of year is all about honouring your indi- You’ve only just begun to explore your current rela- As a Libra, you tend to find the most valuable insights As a Capricorn, it’s not always easy for you to look back vidual essence, Aries. You’ve only just begun to tionship with your career path and have been devot- about yourself through your relationships. This time of toward your own personal past. You tend to be much explore new directions for your identity to expand ing extra time to figuring out the right things to year sees you exploring all of the nitty-gritty parts of what more future-oriented. Today’s full moon in Libra pulls within. Today you will be able to see clearly what’s work on. Today you will be able to see what needs makes a partnership function. Today you will come face- you out of this insular headspace and shines its light working and what isn’t. healing at the root. to-face with your own individuality and personal needs. on your public life and your career path.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’ve been hard to reach, Taurus. But that’s noth- This is the time of year to stretch your potential, Leo. Be gentle with yourself today, Scorpio. You’re You’ve been busy finding your voice, Aquarius. It’s ing to fret about. In fact, it’s been important for you You’ve been toying with exploring new forms of edu- encountering powerful subconscious material. imperative that you reconnect with your ability to tell to withdraw and reflect in your own private world. cation, planning future trips, or exploring other You’ve been busy dealing with the hard and fast ele- your story and tell it confidently. You’ve also been Today’s skies momentarily shake you out of your methods that offer self-expansion and a big picture ments of reality, so much so that it’s been hard to see focusing your efforts on your mental health and insular dreamworld. philosophy on life. what’s happening under the surface. exploring new educational opportunities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Gemini people are notoriously social. This time of You’ve been trekking through some difficult emo- This time of year is all about reconnecting with the This time of year is all about reconnecting with your year sees you at peak connectivity, as you work to sort tional terrain, Virgo. This time of year has you things in life that bring you joy, Sagittarius. It’s not a talents and skills, Pisces. You’ve only just begun to out who belongs in your circle of friends. You may scrubbing the shadowy parts of your heart as you time to be ploughing ahead with productive action, explore your abilities and revisit your natural inner also be keenly aware of new revelations around work to cleanse and transform your approach to it’s a time for embracing the creative process in a resources. At the bottom of these talents is the founda- romantic interests! intimate, vulnerable relationships. restorative, refreshing way. tion of your self-worth, which is also being shored up. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 | 08 BLACKBOARD (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Love What about For me, love is a constant teacher. It teaches me to be kind, compassionate, joyous and free. tomorrow?

PRASHAN SHRESTHA

If you are by yourself all alone at your home, think: What if you could control nature?

Even if you could, you would lose. Nature always wins. Look, who is around you today? It’s nature.

It’s you and I who banished innocent animals from their homes, for all this comfort in life. What have you and I done to our home? A place where we dominate others in order to survive

The path is straight, but things are twisted. You and I are paying for what we did. We are left empty-handed, but with a big question mark: What is tomorrow going to look like?

UNSPLASH Shrestha is a class 11 student at Koshi St James College, Itahari. RAMAN BUDHATHOKI one and help ease their suffering. One cannot freedom. It’s often said you do not find true love, master Karuna without developing Maitri you make one. We can do that by grooming these rom enjoying those late night heart- because we cannot be compassionate without four elements in us and in our better half. warming conversations to spending really understanding someone. Sometimes Now, some of you might say, love, regardless the night staring at the ceiling, reflect- the best way to be compassionate might be to of being true, doesn’t work out. Often, people ing about ourselves, love has got us all just listen. The third element Mudita signifies suffer on an emotional level in the name of love. there. Gaur Gopal Das, an engineer happiness. I know it hurts straight from the heart, but turned lifestyle coach, elucidates love maturity isn’t always to listen to your heart. Fas a great blend of caring and daring: daring to Suffering isn’t love, let alone true love. It is a stand up and accept the person completely For love to bloom there byproduct of love and we should always look regardless of their faults and shortcomings and forward to quantifying it to a minimum. For caring to strive for the physical, emotional, should be mutual respect that, a little personal reflection with reinforce- spiritual welfare of the person whom we love. for each other’s personal ment of the four elements of love should do us As a matter of fact, love is more about giving all good. I remember the famous quote by and less about expecting. In other words, it is an space and freedom. William Jennings Bryan, “Destiny is not a mat- effort to love someone unconditionally. Love is to ter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a invest emotionally in someone—knowing that thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” the rate of return is zero and the biggest disap- Happiness is not merely the absence of prob- After reading this, if you really think he/she is pointment is that there is no emotional insur- lems but our ability to deal with it. Just being your guy go for achieving your love even if you ance. It would not be an exaggeration to say that able to cope with problems doesn’t mean you’re couldn’t you won’t have to regret that you didn’t love brings with it, suffering. happy, you should really enjoy doing so. If your give it a shot. Buddhism has suggested four elements of love has only sadness to offer, it isn’t true love As vague as the explanation of love may true love as: Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and according to the Buddhist philosophy. The final sound, we never fail to have one and every time Upekcha. As I finish explaining these elements, of the four elements is Upekcha, meaning free- the exposition is entirely different because at all perhaps our perception of true love may not dom. Personal space can be defined as the phys- we are discovering something new about it. remain the same. Maitri is translated as kind- ical as well as the psychological space immedi- That’s why for me love is a constant learning ness and benevolence. It is someone’s honest ately surrounding someone, into which process throughout life. efforts to love by comprehending and being on encroachment can feel threatening or uncom- the same page with the other person. Karuna fortable. For love to bloom there should be mutu- Budhathoki is an undergraduate student at refers to compassion; to empathise with some- al respect for each other’s personal space and Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel. UNSPLASH FICTION PARK Yashoda I feel the coldness of the bed which prompts the thought in my mind that she has been long gone. PRASHANT BAJAL

he clock strikes six in the morning. The sound of the alarm deprives me of my sound sleep. I delay the alarm time to continue with my lazi- ness. The irascible alarm Trings again after twenty minutes to wake me up but I, drowned in drowsiness, refuse to cooperate with it. So, I give it another deferment to persist my indo- lence. The peevish sound strikes my ears for the third time and I, thrashing the clock, stop the alarm and turn to the other side with my eyes still closed. Unable to lift my eyebrows that contain the sensation of carrying a heavy weight, I caress the other half side of the bed occupied by my wife. I stroke my hand all over the side including the pillow but to no avail. With immense effort, combating the dizziness, I lift my eyebrows to support my hands. But my eyes too disappoint me providing a vacuum sight.

Where could she go for the night? She will have to come home.

I feel the coldness of the bed which prompts the thought in my mind that she has been gone long. She must have rushed to the bathroom. I close my eyes without the slightest intention of sleeping further but to dawdle until her arrival. I wait for her for almost an hour thinking she might be taking a shower. After an hour long of futile wait, I get out of the bed to complete the search. I sneak a peek at the bathroom to find the door open and no one in sight. UNSPLASH I glance at the other bedroom and kitchen to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” whereabouts. As soon as I pick the mobile, all in vain. A farrago of fear and anger encounter the same network failure. I get to find the same deserted sight. She must I initiate my act in the hope that it will my mind rebels with my heart. It’s always kindles in my heart for her such unseem- in my bed for sleep because it’s getting have gone to the market. I decide not to go appeal to a woman too. I leave the house to men that apologize after a fight so, I ly and remiss behavior. My ambivalence late. As soon as I get in the bed, I see the back to bed and head towards the bath- head for the market. I buy chicken for her refuse to conform with the stereotype. makes me apprehensive. light and surmise that she might have left room. After that, I take a hot shower to and paneer for me. What else could be a Such dissent might lead to a vitriolic Where could she go for the night? She a note for me that could unveil the secrets complete my morning rituals. vegetarian’s first choice to combat the strife upon her advent and end up with will have to come home. I give myself a of her whereabouts. So I check under my I take a look at the watch hung in the aromatic steam wafting from a chicken parlous repercussions but I eschew the feeble assurance and decide to carry on mattress and there lies the answer to my wall which gives me the haunting time of gravy? thought and make up my mind not to call. with my waiting. The clock provides me a conjecture. half past nine. Yashoda hasn’t arrived I go back to the house with sheer alacri- I feel bored and tiresome. Age definitely daunting time of quarter past eight and The note seems very old and torn-out in yet. Oh! She is angry! I say to myself, as, ty but as soon as I enter the kitchen, I fall plays a pivotal role in maintaining exu- keeps reminding me of Yashoda’s places obliterating the likelihood of it in a trice, I remember yesterday’s acrimo- into a state of dejection seeing last night’s berance throughout the day. I succumb to absence. My ambivalence starts to sub- being placed there just this morning. Yet, nious fight between us. I must be losing dirty dishes. I sense a tinge of wrath in my weariness and lie on my bed. side and trepidation takes over my heart I unfold the paper to read. I read the paper my memory along with my youth as I age. my sadness because no matter how bitter I fall asleep and wake up at 5o’ clock. entirely. I never thought the animosity with tears rolling down my cheeks. What shall I do now? I have always been the fight was, Yashoda never left the An evening nap certainly gives more would bring such sinister ramifications. Instead of being a note from Yashoda, it poor at placating my wife and expressing house without completing the chores. hangover than any intoxicating sub- It’s absurd how you don’t sense the happens to be a letter from the Kathmandu my love towards her but, I have been pug- Maybe yesterday’s tussle was disparate stance. I realise, to my dismay, Yashoda necessity to reckon the consequences District Court dated seven years back. I nacious and belligerent during our from the other ones. It’s weird how you do hasn’t arrived still. I check my mobile in during your actions but aftermath all you couldn’t bear to read it in depth, so I fold brawls. It is hard to evince love in words the things that you usually don’t just to the hope to find any sort of communica- can do is brood over it. Nevertheless, it is and put the divorce paper under the mat- but a grotesque grimace is abundant to vent your ire. I wash the dishes to find out tion initiated from her side but not a beyond our power to grasp the tress that unearths the excruciating real- reveal hatred. she made chicken yesterday but threw it thing. I remember my ego hindering the predestined. ity of my estranged relationship with I get an idea. I know she can’t resist all away; maybe she lost her appetite due appeasement and paving way for a more I feel hungry so I heat my food and the Yashoda. hunger for too long, so I decide to cook to our fight. I prepare the food and decide dreadful situation so, pushing my ego chicken as well lest she is heading her some delicious chicken and flat- to wait for her to have lunch together. aside, I give her a call. The call fails to towards home. I finish my dinner and Bajal is a BBS graduate from Public Youth breads. I adhere to the saying, “The way I feel like giving her a call to know her connect. I give it a couple more tries but give her a couple more calls just to Campus, Kathmandu.

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