Parties undecided about PM’s UN visit

To decide today

KATHMANDU, Sept 22: A meeting of top leaders from three big parties couldn’t decide whether or not Prime Minister Sushil Koirala should leave for the US on Wednesday to attend the UN General Assembly given the complex political situation in the country.

Prime Minister Koirala, who is also Nepali Congress president, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal along with second-rung leaders of the three parties held hours-long meeting at the prime minister’s residence at Baluwatar till late night and discussed prime minister’s visit and the situation in the Tarai districts, among other issues.

“We will sit for next round of meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] morning and decide about the prime minister’s visit,” NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

A leader present at the meeting said that the prime minister was given mixed suggestions with regard to his scheduled visit. “Some suggested to the prime minister to cancel the visit given the situation in the country while some others advised him not to do so,” said a leader requesting anonymity. “So, tomorrow’s meeting will take a decision in this regard.”

The prime minister is scheduled to leave for the US at 5 pm Wednesday.

The leaders enquired about the reports that the supplies from India is already being reduced citing security and other reasons and possible shortages in Nepal in the coming days.

According to sources, the leaders have decided to consult the Indian ambassador to Nepal about the situation before they hold their next meeting and decide about the prime minister’s visit.

Indian Ambassador Ranjeet Rae left for India on Monday and is reportedly returning to Kathmandu on Wednesday morning.
Also, the leaders decided to put further efforts to dispel rumors of unrest and violence in the Tarai in the recent weeks.

“We found that international community has been wrongly told that as many as 300 people were made to disappear during recent protests in the Tarai. Similar misinformation on other issues has been spread about the situation in Madhes districts,” said CPN-UML vice-chair Bhim Rawal. “So, we at today’s meeting decided to dispel such rumors.”

Paudel also said that the leaders came up with a conclusion that people have been misled by various elements regarding the contents of the constitution, so it is necessary to inform people about the facts.
The leaders said they have decided to make maximum efforts to resolve disputes with the disgruntled political parties through talks.