UML asks govt for rationale behind sending special envoys to India and China

The opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) on Sunday questioned the logic behind the government decision to send two deputy prime ministers as special envoys of the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India and China.

UML vice-vhairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Bhim Rawal said at the Parliament meeting that there was no ground for the act as per the principles of United Nations and other diplomatic values including the panchasheel principles, reports the Himalayan Times.

He was of the opinion that governments send special envoys to other nations whenever there is some emergency like war or famine.

Meanwhile, Rawal also sought clarifications from the government over a reported letter sent by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Earlier, it was reported that DPM Bimalendra Nidhi during his recent meeting to India had handed over Dahal's letter to Modi, in which the Nepal PM had expressed its commitment for constitutional amendment to address concerns of agitating Madhesi parties.

While Deputy Prime Minister Nidhi had visited India as Prime Minister Dahal's emissary, the government had sent another Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara to China, to what it said improve bilateral ties with the neighbours and let them know the new government's priorities.

Responding to Rawal's concern, Nidhi said the letter sent by Dahal to Modi did not have anything secret, but it was just to inform that he had been sent as a special envoy to share thoughts about plans and programmes of the new government and ensure top-level bilateral visits under the changed political context.