KATHMANDU, Dec 24: While the government is being widely criticized for organizing the controversial Asia Pacific Summit as a co-organizer, two of the senior leaders of the ruling party — Prime Minister KP Oli and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal - have defended the move, saying the summit helped to enhance bilateral relations with many countries. 

They also claimed that the summit did no harm. The summit, according to the two leaders, helped in enhancing bilateral relations with neighboring countries and promoting Nepal across the globe. 

Responding to the concerns raised by fellow party leaders in the ongoing Standing Committee meeting of the ruling NCP on Sunday, both the leaders said organizing the summit in Kathmandu last month was nothing controversial but a continuation of past traditions. The leaders duo blamed the media and civil society for spreading negative publicity about the summit. 

"I signed the invitation cards in the capacity of prime minister as they were to be sent to so many heads of governments and states. It was not for inviting a religious dispute,” party leader Yogesh Bhattarai quoted the prime minister as saying, “We are firm on our values — secularism and religious freedom -- as written in the Constitution. No need to be skeptical about that.” 

Following strong criticism from most party leaders, former PM Nepal, who was actively involved in organizing the summit, was asked to clarify over the controversy in Sunday's meeting.  But Oli himself came to the front to clarify the issue after Nepal responded to the concerns raised by fellow party leaders in the meeting.

While clarifying on the matter, Oli said the summit greatly helped to enhance bilateral relations with various neighboring countries. “As stated in the Constitution, we equally respect all castes and religions. But some people created an illusion among the public regarding the summit,” said Oli, blaming the media and the civil society members for exaggerating things. 

Leader Nepal said he was assigned by the government to play an active role in the summit. Organizing the summit was not a wrong move, Nepal claimed. “I don't see anything wrong in organizing the summit," Nepal defended. 

Disagreeing with the government's involvement in the summit, organized by the controversial Universal Peace Federation (UPF), NCP leaders have demanded a probe into the UPF and its financial resources. Prime Minister Oli and leader Nepal were asked to apologize for "the blunder of organizing the summit."

 
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