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The government has clarified that it will not form a high-level probe committee to investigate the latest gold smuggling case.

At a time when the main opposition CPN-UML has been obstructing the Parliament proceedings demanding formation of a probe committee, the government on Thursday made it clear that it will not form another committee saying that the ongoing investigation will be affected by it.

Saying that the powerful department of the government is investigating the case, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said that there is no room for suspicion.

She further said that the government is almost getting to the root of the gold smuggling case, urging all not to affect the investigation in the name of another committee.

“Probably, this gold would not have been seized, had the government not been serious. The Department of Revenue Investigation is the powerful department of the government. We believe that forming another committee will hamper the investigation of the Department of Revenue Investigation,” Minister Sharma said during a press conference organized in Singha Durbar on Thursday.

Saying that the government is committed to reaching the root of the gold smuggling, she urged all not to harbor doubt.

“Whatever the government is doing, it is trying to reach the root of the case. The investigation is moving ahead in an effective way. We have to wait for sometime to see the result,” she said.

The CPN-UML on Thursday obstructed the National Assembly meeting demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the one quintal gold smuggling case.

As soon as the meeting began, UML lawmaker Bhairav Kumar Shrestha said they would not allow the National Assembly proceed with its business until the government forms a high-level probe committee.

He also said that the UML would not be a mute spectator in the latest gold smuggling case.

Shrestha suspected that the people in the government were also involved in the gold smuggling scam.

Saying that he would draw the attention of the government towards the issue, National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina urged the UML to create a conducive environment to operate the meeting smoothly.

After the UML lawmakers refused to give up their stance despite repeated requests, Chairperson Timilsina said that the meeting has been postponed till August 7.

The CPN (Maoist Center) is not a political party in a strict sense, Maoist chair and prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ has said.
In his opening remarks at the fourth meeting of the party’s Central Committee, which began in Kathmandu on Wednesday, he said that there was an urgent need to reform the party, and presented some of his plans.  

“I have said this in the past as well. We have a huge line of leaders and workers, but the party is not like a party.” Dahal said that the Maoist Center must start a campaign to rebuild a communist party in a true sense. For that, he directed the Central Committee members to take the responsibility of party  reconstruction and reformation by conducting debates and discussions in a disciplined manner.

After the formation of the government under the leadership of his party, Maoist Chair claimed that the people are hopeful about the country’s future, and that this was the perfect time for the Maoist party to launch a party rebuilding campaign.The Central Committee meeting also decided to amend the party statute to increase women representation and include new leaders in the central member roster. With the passing of this proposal, the number of Maoist central members will now be 409. There are currently 199 alternate central members. 

In the meeting, Dahal also submitted an organizational proposal to hold a legislative conference after conducting a three-month campaign to strengthen the party organization.  “A three-month campaign will be conducted to strengthen the party and after that, the Statute Convention will be held,” Dahal has mentioned in the proposal. The campaign is set to take place from August through October. It is mentioned that 6,743 ward committees will be formed across the country and all the ethnic fronts will include at least 10 percent of their population. 

The party also plans to digitize all committees, make an annual calendar, hold a legislative conference in November, assign party secretaries with the responsibilities of overseeing the provinces, and deploying all central members to the ward levels for party rebuilding.. Dahal has also proposed unity with those forces that share similar ideas with the Maoists. 

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.

Issues related to the implementation of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), bilateral relations between the two countries and the US support for Nepal's economic development among others were discussed in the meeting, a source said.

According to a high-level source, Ambassador Thompson also asked the Prime Minister about whether he will participate in the United Nations General Assembly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making preparations for PM Dahal’s China visit.

Though China had invited Nepal to take part in the Boao Forum for Asia in March-end, Prime Minister Dahal canceled the trip at the last hour.

Earlier in July, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu also came to Nepal to discuss the implementation of the MCC.

The US has been urging the political parties of Nepal for the implementation of the MCC which was endorsed by the Parliament.

According to the MCC agreement, the US has announced to provide USD 500 to Nepal for the implementation of a 315-km double circuit 400 kV transmission line and roads upgrade.