A majority of NC leaders present at an informal meeting held at party´s president Sushil Koirala´s residence in Maharajgunj on Thursday morning complained that the party had been unable to bring both India and China into its confidence. [break]
They demanded that the newly elected Central Working Committee (CWC) review the party´s foreign policy and make it public to assure both India and China that the party is committed to protecting their interests.
According to NC CWC member Gopal Man Shrestha, leaders present at the meeting argued that the foreign policy of the party is outdated. “There were complaints that the party does not have a clear policy towards India and China,” he said.
Referring to a recent UN report which chiefly blamed NC for the delay in the peace process, the leaders also expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the party to bring the global body currently facilitating peace process into its confidence. “Nepali Congress does have a lot of respect towards the UN,” said Shrestha. “Our only complaint is that UNMIN has not been impartial.”
According to another NC leader Binaya Dhwoj Chand, the meeting stressed on the need to set up a separate foreign relations department within the party. “The party should make clear what our policy toward India and China is,” he said.
The northern neighbor has considerably increased its engagements in Nepal after the fall of monarchy and frequent ´anti-China´ demonstrations staged by Tibetans in Kathmandu streets lately. The southern neighbor has also been increasing its engagements in Nepal apparently to keep its influence intact here.
The meeting also held detailed discussions on the peace process, constitution drafting and political deadlock surrounding the election of a new prime minister, said Dr Prakash Saran Mahat. While expressing concern over the delay in the peace process, the party also urged the Maoists to be honest toward the management of their combatants and peace process.
The NC meeting decided not to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy as long as there is no concrete agreement to conclude peace process and promulgate the new constitution.
Among other things, the informal meeting also made a decision to hold the first meeting of the newly-elected Central Working Committee (CWC) of the party on October 29.
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