KATHMANDU, Aug 25: Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala finally presented herself in person before the Nepali Congress parliamentary party (PP) on Tuesday to defend her decision not to accompany Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal during the India trip. [break]
- NC PP insists Sujata appear in person
- My busy schedule prevented me from coming: Sujata to NC
- Sujata ignores NC PP call, to reply through Foreign Ministry
- NC PP to seek clarifications from Sujata
Earlier on Saturday, Koirala had ignored the PP´s call to present herself before it and furnish clarification for opting out of the prime minsiter´s delegation.
"It is not a clarification. It is natural for the parliamentary party to call me to learn about my view [on the absence during the India visit]," Koirala, surrounded by cadres, told journalists after submitting her clarification to the PP.
According to lawmaker Jagadish Narsingh KC, Koirala told the meeting that she opted out of the visit due to her poor health.
This is first time in the history of the Nepali Congress that a sitting minister has furnished clarifications to the parliamentary party over her own decision.
Lawmaker Gagan Thapa said that the instance of a sitting minister coming to the parliamentary party for clarifications sends a message that no one is above the party and party statute in the Nepali Congress.
"The clarification of the Foreign Minister shows that the days of running the party through a decision of one or two person have gone," Thapa said.
When asked whether the parliamentary party was satisfied with the clarifications, PP Spokesperson Nabindra Raj Joshi said, "It has established a new tradition in the party. The party wanted to know her view on her opting out of the India trip with the prime minister."
Related story
PPMO sets 30-day deadline for 17 construction contractors to su...
