Submit your Article

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the State Partnership Program (SPP) would be rescinded.

Talking to journalists in Chitwan on Friday, Dahal said that the SPP would not be passed by issuing a 12-point interpretative declaration like Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

 "We endorsed the MCC only by issuing a 12-point interpretative declaration. But there will be no such practice in regard with the SPP. It will be repealed, instead,” the leader added.

Dahal claimed that both the MCC and the SPP were introduced during the then KP Sharma Oli-led government.

Responding to the queries of mediapersons, he clarified that there will be no change in the alliance immediately.

Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka said that the chapter of the State Partnership Program (SPP) has already been closed.

At a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives held on Friday morning, Minister Khadka said that the debate on the SPP is not necessary as its chapter has already been closed.

Khadka made it clear that the SPP is not in the interest of the country.

“SPP is not in the interest of the country. We will not take this issue ahead. We are not in the strategic alliance,” he said, adding, “The chapter of this issue has been closed. Let’s not talk about this issue. Let’s not talk about the same thing over and over again.”

Minister Khadka said that it is not necessary to talk about the SPP as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has already said that the government will not take the issue ahead.

Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma said that Nepal will not take part in the military alliance.

Taking part in a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives held on Friday, he said that the State Partnership Program (SPP) was not acceptable to the Nepal Army.

“We have already informed the US officials that Nepal will not participate in the military alliance,” he said, adding, “SPP is not acceptable for us. We sent a letter as it was said that the program was for humanitarian assistance. We did not send the letter for military alliance. We have already informed the US that Nepal will not take part in the military alliance.”

He said that the Nepal Army will not play with the sentiments of the people.

The CoAS Sharma said that the documents of the agreement that have been made public are not official.

Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhu Ram Sharma have participated in a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives on Friday.

Minister Khadka and CoAS took part in the meeting after the Committee invited them to discuss the State Partnership Program (SPP).

The Committee summoned CoAS Sharma to inquire about Nepal Army's involvement in the SPP and his upcoming US visit.

Committee President Pabitra Niraula said that the parliamentary committee wanted to know about Nepal Army's role in SPP and CoAS Sharma's US visit after the lawmakers of ruling and opposition parties raised questions in the Parliament on the issue.

Former Defence Minister duo Ishwor Pokharel and Bhim Rawal are also in the meeting.