WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 241 | 8 pages | Rs.5 35.4O C 4.5O C Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj Friday, October 23, 2020 | 07-07-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla FESTIVAL GREETINGS The Kathmandu Post wishes all its readers, advertisers and well-wishers a Happy Dashain. Since our offices will remain closed from October 23 to October 27, the next edition of the Post will be published on Thursday, October 29. RSS Children stand near a newly installed rote ping in Buipa of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality in Khotang. This year the Covid-19 pandemic has robbed people of the excitement in celebrating Dashain, the country’s biggest festival. India intelligence chief’s sudden dash for Kathmandu raises many an eyebrow Oli’s meeting with him could be aimed at mending strained ties between Nepal and India, say observers, while party leaders disapprove saying it goes against diplomatic norms. Goel meeting took place right after a meeting of the National Security Council, which ended at around 9:30pm. Former prime ministers Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal on Thursday morning refuted reports suggesting their meetings with Goel. Since there has been no official word–neither from New Delhi nor from Kathmandu, the motive behind the sudden visit of the chief of Indian intelligence agency remains a mystery. Analysts and some ruling party leaders, however, say Goel’s brief visit to Kathmandu was part of a move KP Sharma Oli Samant Kumar Goel choreographed by both the countries. “As we know there are some misun- ANIL GIRI Party (NCP), with Pushpa Kamal derstandings between Nepal and KATHMANDU, OCT 22 Dahal, the other chair, expressing dis- India, Goel’s visit may be aimed at satisfaction at the prime minister’s breaking the stalemate and bringing Last week, when Prime Minister KP “unilateral move”. the bilateral ties back on track,” Sharma Oli effected a minor Cabinet The conflict in the ruling party fur- Bijaya Kant Lal Karna, a former rejig, one event that starkly stood out ther deepened after about a dozen and ambassador, told the Post. “I think was his decision to remove Ishwar a half members of the provincial both sides want to engage at the top Pokhrel as the defence minister. assembly in Karnali filed a no-confi- level and Goel’s visit could be the Oli took the defence portfolio with dence motion against Chief Minister starting point.” himself, leaving Pokhrel as deputy Mahendra Bahadur Shahi. Of those This, however, is not the first visit prime minister to “take care of” the who tried to remove Shahi, 15 are from by Goel to Kathmandu during Oli’s Prime Minister’s Office. the former CPN-UML, and of them at tenure as the prime minister. Goel had Conjectures were that the Nepal least eight represent the Oli faction. landed in Kathmandu last year in July Army chief was not happy with Amid all these goings-on, India’s as well, at the invitation of the chief of Pokhrel for some of his statements intelligence chief made a dash for the National Intelligence Department, regarding the national defence force. Kathmandu, creating ripples among the R&AW’s counterpart in Nepal. Pokhrel was vocally critical of the Nepali analysts, academia and intelli- Goel had met with Oli then too. Indian Army chief over the latter’s gentsia. But many wonder why New Delhi one statement in which he had said Samant Kumar Goel, chief of would send an intelligence chief to Nepal was taking umbrage at India at India’s Research and Analysis Wing Kathmandu to resume bilateral the behest of China. (R&AW), during his less than 24-hour dialogue. Oli’s move of appointing some min- stay in Kathmandu, met with Prime Former deputy prime minister and isters had also sowed the seeds of dis- Minister KP Sharma Oli. minister for defence and home Bhim cord in the ruling Nepal Communist Confirming the meeting, Surya Rawal questioned the timing of the Thapa, Oli’s press adviser, said visit and the way Goel met with the that Goel “paid a courtesy call on prime minister. the prime minister on Wednesday Nepal’s Foreign Ministry expressed evening”. its ignorance about Goel’s visit to Thapa refused to provide the Kathmandu, even though a request to details. But there was no official allow the Indian Air Force plane, on representation from the Ministry which the Indian official arrived in of Foreign Affairs during the Kathmandu, was made through the meeting between Oli and Goel, ministry. Flights between Nepal and said a Foreign Ministry official. India currently remain suspended due A senior security official said to the pandemic. The Oli administra- Oli was alone while two officials tion is yet to respond to India’s request accompanied Goel. to resume flights. According to sources, the Oli- >> Continued on page 2 C M Y K FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Four provincial governments to continue free tests and care Health facilities run by the federal government witness a sharp drop in number of people coming in for tests as they start charging money. GHANASHYAM GAUTAM IN BUTWAL the central government, the hospital “Only those people with symptoms RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL IN BHARATPUR, has started charging Rs 2,000 for a associated with Covid-19 are getting DEEPAK PARIYAR IN POKHARA & Covid-19 test. tested now,” said Acharya. CHITRANGA THAPA IN DHANGADHI “The hospital had collected 154 Health facilities that are run by the OCT 22 swab samples on Sunday. The number provincial government are still pro- dropped to 95 on Monday,” said viding free Covid-19 tests and treat- Four provincial governments have Liladhar Paudel, information officer ment though. said that they would continue with at the hospital. “The government of Gandaki free Covid-19 testing and treatment Bagmati provincial government has Province is responsible towards its days after the federal government also decided to continue with free citizens. Free testing and treatment announced to charge money for test- Covid-19 testing and treatment from will continue from 38 places in the ing and treatment. eight hospitals. province,” said Gandaki Chief Lumbini, Bagmati, Gandaki, and “Free treatment is available at Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. Sudurpaschim provincial govern- Hetauda Hospital in Makwanpur, the Gandaki Provincial Health ments have said they will continue the district hospitals in Sindhuli, Directorate has been conducting free free treatment and tests through Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Bhaktapur, tests of those people identified health facilities that fall under the Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot, through contact tracing as well. jurisdiction of their respective pro- their isolation wards and 15 other iso- “Around 600 swabs are being collect- POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN vincial government. lation facilities in various ed on a daily basis,” said Nawaraj A veterinarian collects blood sample from a goat to test for diseases before it is put up for sale at Tukucha Khasi Bazar in Kathmandu on Meanwhile, health facilities run by locations. The treatment will continue Sharma, coordinator of Provincial Thursday. Hundreds of goats have been brought to Kathmandu Valley for this year’s Dashain festival. the federal government have started throughout Dashain holidays,” said Health Emergency Centre. to charge for tests and treatment. The Yubaraj Dulal, minister for social In Sudurpaschim Province, free number of people visiting these facili- development. Covid-19 tests and treatment are avail- ties for tests has gone down as a result. Dulal added that Hetauda Hospital able at all hospitals run by the provin- Lumbini Chief Minister Shankar and Dhulikhel Hospital are collecting cial government. Pokharel on Monday informed the swab samples for testing without any “We are conducting free tests and Local government in Barpak provides public through social media that treat- charge. treatment through all hospitals oper- ment and testing will be free of cost in In Gandaki Province, the number of ated by the provincial government,” four Covid-19 hospitals in Butwal, individuals providing swab samples said Dr Gunaraj Awasthi, director at Bhairahawa, Dang and Banke. has decreased at Pokhara Academy of Sudurpaschim Health Directorate. work for jobless targeting Dashain Swab samples are being collected Health Science, which is under the Seti Provincial Hospital in and tested from 10 different locations federal government. Dhangadhi and Dadeldhura Hospital HARIRAM UPRETI the employment programme and has foot trails, drain canals and rural while local governments are also col- “The number of people coming for are charging Rs 2,000 for tests from GORKHA, OCT 22 prepared a working guideline for the roads were not included in our plan lecting swab samples from their tests has decreased after the federal only those people who need their test same. but we are happy we took part in health facilities. government decided to charge money results immediately. Forty-year-old Himlal Baram, a native On May 6, an executive meeting of the project. Aside from generating “The number of individuals provid- for testing and treatment,” said Dr “So far, all treatment costs of Covid- of Gorkha district, returned home the rural municipality had endorsed employment for the locals, the project ing swab samples for Covid-19 tests Arjun Acharya, director at the hospi- 19 patients are being taken care of by from Malaysia in March amid grow- the working guideline to provide daily has also beautified the villages,” he has not decreased,” said Dr Rajendra tal run by the academy. the provincial government. We are ing health concerns during the times wages to the workers (beneficiaries) said. Giri, chief at the Provincial Public The hospital had collected 400 swab only charging money for tests of those of Covid-19.