Taking up the allegation, the parliamentary committee has also directed the government to reply to New Delhi through the ministry of Foreign Affairs. [break]
New Delhi had conveyed its concern to Kathmandu over the alleged involvement of Maoists in training the Indian Maoists in October, which has triggered a political controversy.
The committee discussed the allegation with Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai and Joint Secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala skipped the meeting.
Replying to lawmakers´ questions, Foreign Secretary Bhattarai informed the ministry was not in a position to comment on the issues as investigation into the allegation was underway.
The committee, in its decision, accused the Indian Embassy of breaching diplomatic norms while communicating New Delhi´s concern on the issue. Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood had handed over a letter to Home Secretary Dr Govind Prasad Kusum in the last week of October and had given a carbon copy of the letter, which expressed India´s concern over the issue, to the Foreign Ministry later.
“This act of Ambassador Sood has breached diplomatic norms,” the committee concluded in its decision and directed the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all diplomatic missions abide by diplomatic norms.
The committee has also sought the letter of the Indian Ambassador after Foreign Secretary Bhattarai declined to make the letter available. He told the committee that he could not make the letter public, saying that such a step would undermine the sanctity of diplomatic correspondence. Taking part in the discussion, some lawmakers said that the government should take up the Indian allegation as aimed at not only the Maoists but the whole nation because the charge, if substantiated, could also harm bilateral relations between Nepal and India.
Some other lawmakers accused India of trying to tarnish the image of the UCPN (Maoist) to take revenge for the Solukhumbu incident in which the Maoists had thrown shoes at the Indian ambassador in early October.
“India blamed the Maoists in retaliation for the Solukhumbu incident,” said lawmaker Chandrika Prasad Yadav of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum.
The lawmakers had also demanded that the government make public all facts relating to the Indian allegation, saying people have right to be informed, especially on such a sensitive issue.
Related story
Speaker Mahara resigns amid rape allegation
