KATHMANDU, Sept 4: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is undergoing plasmapheresis treatment in Singapore, will be returning home in a couple of days. However, leaders of the ruling party and some businessmen have still been visiting the prime minister, which critics term as unwanted visits made just to appease the prime minister.
On Tuesday, NCP's General Secretary Bishnu Poudel left for Singapore together with Dr Dibya Singh, Oli's personal physician. The party's vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, who was supposed to go to Singapore together with Poudel, however, cancelled his visit at the last moment.
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“When will this shameful culture of flattery end?” ruling NCP's Publicity Department's deputy-chief Surya Thapa wrote on Facebook, adding, “Are those causing obstruction to [prime minister's] treatment friends or foes?”
Prior to this, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun had met PM Oli, while travelling to Bali, Indonesia. Businessmen Suraj Baidhya, Chandra Dhakal and Deepak Malhotra among others had reportedly gone to Singapore to extend their wishes for Oli's speedy recovery.
Chairman of Non-Resident Nepali Association Bhawan Bhatta and another businessman Sanat Neupane were kicked out from a Silk Air aircraft for allegedly misbehaving with crew members while leaving for Singapore to meet PM Oli. Of late, the government has not disclosed anything about Oli's health condition although his treatment is said to be almost over. In his absence, Oli is convening cabinet meetings through video conferencing. Oli's move has drawn severe criticism in the country with some politicians and IT experts questioning whether the decision made by hi-tech cabinet could be leaked.
Oli held the second cabinet meeting through video conference on Tuesday. Concerned over public criticism, Oli's aides, however, said the ministers had just briefed him about their works in Nepal.
“It was only a kind of briefing, not a cabinet meeting,” said one of Oli's aides. In Tuesday's meeting, Oli had inquired about the progress made by the Ministry of Water Supply to resume the halted works of Melamchi Water Supply Project.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel, who is leading the Council of Ministers as the acting PM, had briefed Oli about the activities of various ministries.
