"As the country will have to introduce MRP [machine readable passport] as early as possible, the cabinet has directed the ministry to settled the issues related to MRP tender and move ahead," said a minister on condition of anonymity.[break]
As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala refused to approve the MRP insignia in an apparent bid to block MoFA officials from signing the deal with the French firm, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had presented a direct proposal seeking a cabinet nod to the design of MRP.
As the proposal was presented in the cabinet despite her opposition, Koirala told the cabinet that she declined to approve the insignia because MoFA officials kept her in dark in the whole multi-million dollar tender.
The agreement with the French printer was supposed to be signed last Monday but that did not happen due to the non-cooperation of Koirala.
"If there are any concerns in regard to the tender process, they should be addressed. But the tender process should not be sabotaged," said the minister.
After the cabinet meeting, Koirala told journalists that she will not approve the insignia unless she is allowed to see the evaluation report on the basis of which the tender was awarded to the French security printer.
"It is a matter related to the country´s security. I will not believe the recommendation of a 28-year old man [reference to a technical expert in the evaluation committee]," she said.
PM, Mahat trade words
The cabinet meeting saw a heated exchange of words between Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Energy Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.
The debate began after Mahat proposed the cabinet to annul the appointment of Arjun Karki as the head of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower project. Mahat protested the appointment made by Energy Secretary Shankar Koirala, saying he was not informed before the appointment.
Mahat told the cabinet that he wanted to cancel Karki´s appointment and to get Koirala transferred, saying Karki had earlier declined to take the same appointment. Karki was offered the post just after the formation of the present government.
As Mahat pressed the cabinet to annul Karki´s appointment, according to a cabinet member, the prime minister asked him, "Should I punish you if you do not abide by what I said?" Then Mahat exploded at the prime minister before walking out of the meeting, the source said.
The prime minister then directed the chief secretary to settle the issue in a couple of days, the source said.
Despite repeated attempts by Republica for comments, Mahat did not receive phone calls.
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