Kathmandu, September 10
Two chairpersons of the ruling Nepal Communist Party have arrived on the same page regarding the endorsement of the controversial Millenium Challenge Corporation deal signed between the governments of Nepal and the United States in 2017.
The deal has not been implemented so far as the Federal Parliament has not endorsed the deal, which is an essential requirement for its implementation. The ruling party is largely divided over the issue. While Oli was pressing for its endorsement, Dahal had sought some amendments.
The division was seen when the three-member task force that the party formed to resolve the issue also could not forge consensus while submitting its report in February. Whereas two members–Jhala Nath Khanal and Bhim Rawal–said endorsing the agreement and implementing it without any amendments could be against national interests, the third member, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, insisted the country could benefit from the grant.
But now, both the chairmen have agreed to seek amendments before the House okays it form implementation. In a political proposal prepared by the two for the standing committee meeting scheduled for Friday, they have said the task force report will be discussed in the party to “endorse it with necessary revisions and amendments to clarify on issues of national interests.”
