KATHMANDU, Sep 13: Lawmakers speaking in parliament on Monday have expressed their concerns about the agenda of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's India visit.
Some lawmakers also demanded that the agenda for the prime minister's visit be presented in parliament before he leaves for Delhi. Dahal is leaving for a four-day state visit to India on Thursday.
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CPN-UML Vice Chairman Ashta Laxmi Shakya urged the Prime Minister Dahal to keep national interest in first priority while signing any agreement or understanding with the Indian side. Reminding a memorandum submitted to Dahal by her party on Sunday, Shakya urged the prime minister to heed the concerns raised by the main opposition.
“We expect that the prime minister will not forge any agreement against our national interest or benefit,” said Shakya. She also emphasized on unity and cooperation among major political parties for coping with new national challenges in the country.
Ruling Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Bharat Shah suggested to Prime Minister Dahal to prioritize an agreement with India on extending its railway to Bhairahawa dry port as part of implementation of a past understanding between the two countries. He also urged the prime minister to remind India about the commitments made to Nepal during Modi's visit to Nepal about two years ago.
Madhesi People's Right Forum-Democratic leader Jeetendra Dev, hinting at CPN-UML's warning, urged the prime minister not to lose self-confidence and sign any agreements that benefit the two countries. “I extend full support to Dahal's stance of maintaining balanced relation between the two countries.” He also suggested revising the imminent persons group, which was formed during the K P Oli-led government's tenure.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal lawmaker Bikram Pandey demanded that a constitution amendment proposal be brought in parliament also comprising the issue to reinstate Hindu state, before Dahal's India visit.
Nepaa Party lawmaker Laxman Rajbansi, mentioning the recent statement of Prime Minister Dahal, asked Dahal to clarify what did he mean when he said 'there is personal chemistry between Modi and himself.'
