KATHMANDU: Allegations of nepotism have been levelled at Minister for Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) Rajendra Mahato who has included his relatives in the team that will accompany him to the US. team. The minister is going there on February 26 for Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations.

Nagendra Mahato Sudi,

a cousin of Minister Mahato, is in the team,said an officer of the ministry. Sudi, a

resident of Babbargunj VDC’s ward 8 in Sarlahi

district, was last week appointed personal assistant to Minister Mahato. However, Sudi’s appointment has been recorded in the MoCS register of January 15.

There is irregularity in the whole process, the source said. “We don’t know what is the motive behind it,” he added. Earlier, Anil Kumar Mahato used to work as personal assistant immediately after the appointment of Minister Mahato. MoCs has also included Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, general manager of Trade Export Promotion Center along with Sudi.

The team includes secretary Purushttom Ojha, joint secretary Surya Prasad Silwal, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Kush Kumar Joshi, Confederation of Nepalese Industries president Binod Kumar Chaudhary, Garment Association of Nepal president Prashant Kumar Pokhrel along with Dr Shankar Sharma, Nepal’s ambassador to the US.