Nepal too will have its decision and partnership in projects of investment worth 200 million, clarifies PM Dahal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his commitment that the present government shall not conclude any agreements against the national interest.

Participating in the discussions on a bill designed to amend the Constitutional Council (Works, Duties, Rights and Work Procedures) Act, 2066 BS in a meeting of the House of Representatives, State Affairs and Good Governance Committee today, he reiterated that the government would enter into only the agreements that are in the nation’s interest.

The PM said so while making things clear from his side after the lawmakers during the discussions inquired him about what transpired in his meeting Thursday with the Minister of External Affairs of India, S Jaishankar, and the agreements Nepal signed with India.

“I had a one-on-one and Nepali delegation-level meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister yesterday. During the meeting, I talked on matters of Nepal’s national interest and the electricity trade agreement only. The electricity trade agreement is in Nepal’s interest; and an agreement has been reached by which Nepal will export 10,000 megawatts of power in 10 years,” he said.

Stating that it is India not alone deciding on projects of up to Rs 200 million of investment, PM Dahal made it clear that Nepal also decides and has partnership on this matter. He further said: “The main thing is that an agreement has been made by which India will buy 10,000 megawatts of power in 10 years, no matter who has produced the electricity. It is not necessary to have any doubts, and the implementation of the agreement will also be only in Nepal’s national interest.”

In reply to lawmakers’ question that the Indian Minister for External Affairs had been concerned about the Chinese delegation’s visit to Nepal, the Prime Minister said, “He (S Jaishankar) did not even mention a word about this matter during the one-to-one and the delegation-level meeting as well. That is only falsehood and propaganda; it does not have any truth.”

Stating that emphasis has been laid on unanimous consensus as far as possible on the bill designed to amend the Constitutional Council (Works, Duties, Rights and Work Procedures) Act, 2066 BS, the PM insisted the amendment bill has been brought to eliminate the problems and ill practices seen in the past in constitutional appointments.