KATHMANDU, MAY 31
CPN-Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha today sought explanation from the government on whether the Millennium Challenge Corporation deal signed with the United States of America was still valid.
Commenting on the government's new fiscal budget in the National Assembly, the Upper House of the Parliament, Shrestha said that the government had pledged to build Lapsiphedi, Hetauda, Damauli, Butwal, Gorakhpur 400 kv transmission lines. "The government should make it clear whether this project is under MCC or is it a Government of Nepal's own project?"
He said, "The US has not spoken a word on the 12-point interpretive declaration. Top leaders had said in the House that the day the US would not agree to this 12-point interpretive declaration, the MCC agreement would be invalidated. Has the finance minister incorporated this project in the budget after concluding that MCC has been invalidated and if so, I thank the finance minister, but the government must clarify," he added.
Shrestha is one of the top leaders of his party who had opposed the MCC deal in the run up to the parliamentary ratification of the $500 million project.
CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal had defended the MCC deal after its parliamentary ratification and lashed out at Shrestha and other party leaders who had opposed the deal.
CPN-MC Chief Whip Dev Prasad Gurung had also opposed the MCC deal during its ratification process.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 01, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
