No cabinet meeting had taken place through video conference : Minister Baskota

Published On: August 29, 2019 05:30 PM NPT By: Nribesh Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug 29: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota said on Thursday that no cabinet meeting had taken place through video conference.

Speaking at the meeting of House of Representatives on Thursday, Minister Baskota urged the lawmakers not to exaggerate the issue stating that the Prime Minister and the ministers just exchanged the greeting through video conference.

“We just exchanged greetings with the prime minister. We did not discuss any agendas and did not decide anything. It was not a cabinet meeting. So there is no need to exaggerate the matter,” Minister Baskota added.

"If the American and Russian presidents can hold talks through video conference, why can't it happen between PM KP Oli and his cabinet colleagues? I think it's not a big deal in this modern digital era," he said.

He said that PM Oli and US President Donald Trump may also hold talks through video conference.

Minister Baskota maintained that the government is very much aware of the possible leakage of confidential information by the use of information technology.

Stating that the video conference could be done from every corner of the world, the government spokesperson Baskota urged the lawmakers not to doubt on the prime minister over the matter of sovereignty and nationalism.

Minister Baskota was responding to questions raised by the lawmakers on the amendment of Cabinet Meeting Operating Procedure and a recent cabinet meeting that was held through video conference.

Following the response from Minister Baskota, Nepali Congress whip Pushpa Bhusal clarified that the party is not against the use of advance information technology at all.

However, she asked the reason behind the government's move to amend to the Cabinet Meeting Operating Procedure.

Lawmaker Prakash Rasaili sought the reason behind designating the acting prime minister if the cabinet meeting could be held through the video conference under the chair of prime minister when he is outside the country. Lawmaker Prem Suwal argued that the video conference from Delhi may put the sovereignty of the country at risk.