‘Ensure national interest in MCC project’

Kathmandu, Sept 14

Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher JBR said that Nepal would accept the United States’ grant project under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact programme only if it is in the national interest.

He urged the government to move ahead with the process of MCC project ensuring the amendments in the national interest.

“Not only the MCC but also every foreign support could be accepted if only it is in the interest of Nepal,” he said while interacting with the journalists in Dhalkebar of Dhanusha district after meeting his party cadres on Tuesday.

However, he did not inform about whether he met Vice President of Compact Operations of the MCC Fatema Z. Sumar.

Likewise, our Kapilvastu Correspondent reported that Spokesperson of the CPN UML Pradeep Kumar Gyawali stated his party would take public opinion into consideration before taking any decision about the MCC programme.

Addressing a meeting of the leading party cadres, he maintained that the main opposition party would not make any haste in making a say on the US grant.

“UML will study the entire environment, consider the bilateral relations between the two countries, public opinion here in Nepal and development potential here,” he said.

He claimed that erstwhile KP Sharma Oli administration had moved forward with the MCC grant only because it was signed by the government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and endorsed by the government.

Stating that ratifying the agreement was the liability of the government, he urged the latter to pass it if they consider it beneficial for Nepal.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 September 2021.