“I realize that the country’s immediate problems should be my priority over the idea of visiting the US university,” Pradhan told Nagariknews, elaborating on his decision to scrap the trip. “There’s nothing I have done, because of which I should be afraid.” [break]
Pradhan cancelled his visit at the eleventh hour reportedly fearing his possible arrest in the US after his instructions to halt investigations into the murder of journalist Dekendra Thapa, who was killed by Maoist cadres some eight years ago.
He also said he was falsely charged that he wrote to the authorities to halt the probe into the journalist’s murder. “Go through the letter that I wrote. There is only the mention of the constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Accord,” Pradhan said, adding, “I have never told not to punish the criminals.”
Asked when he would visit the US, Pradhan, who was said to visit the University of New Haven to attend a program on criminal justice system in Nepal, maintained: “This is just postponement. I was going there taking due permission from the government. But for now, my priority has changed. I will go after resolving the problems here.”
He also blamed political parties for not being able to set up a truth and reconciliation commission yet and stressed that the parties should work towards getting implemented the ordinance that is still awaiting the president’s endorsement.
Pradhan was scheduled to fly for the USA at 11 pm on Sunday along with his personal aide Santosh Giri, Deputy Attorney General Prem Raj Karki and Assistant District Attorney of Kathmandu Padam Bahadur KC.
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