Lawmakers seek information about PM's impending visit to US

KATHMANDU, June 13: Lawmakers in the House of Representatives (HoR) have sought information on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to the United States of America slated for the second week of July, 2022.  

The lawmakers participating in the discussions on the implementation of the foreign policy in a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the lower house of the Federal Parliament today expressed it would be appropriate to hold the necessary discussions and consultations with all the parties before the prime minister's any visit to foreign country. 

Committee member and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stressed the need to move ahead by reviewing the past activities related to implementation of foreign policy. He pointed out the need to hold discussions among the national forces on topics including policy execution.  

Stating that the committee, parliament and the entire nation should be informed about the PM's visit, he maintained that the views of the Foreign Affairs Minister were required on the topic. Former Prime Minister Nepal added that nothing should be done while conducting the foreign policy that makes the neighboring countries suspicious. 

Committee member and former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal demanded Prime Minister Deuba and the Minister for Foreign Affairs be invited to the Committee to explain about the PM's visit. 

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Kumar Gyawali suggested that it would be appropriate if the Prime Minister went for the foreign visit with a single voice after consulting with all the parties.  He stressed that the foreign policy should not be conducted in such a way as to appease one neighbor while annoying another one. 

Lawmaker Dibyamani Rajbhandari, referring to the context in the past when the head of government used to meet foreigners secretly at night, said that the present meetings were more transparent. He expressed the view that all the meetings with the foreigners should be transparently conducted. Rajbhandari also suggested keeping an up-to-date record on the number of foreigners involved in different professions in Nepal. 

Lawmaker Surendra Kumar Karki stated that a situation has arisen in which a proposal for peace has to be forwarded in a revised way in the new context. He suggested starting talks on this matter with the neighbors together with all parties and the government.

Committee president Pabitra Niraula (Kharel) said that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister would be invited in the next meeting to brief about the visit. 

Liladevi Sitaula, Chand Tara Kumari, Mohan Baniya, Narad Muni Rana, Pushpa Kumari Karna, among the lawmakers, gave their views regarding the conduct of the country's foreign policy.