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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has briefed the Cabinet meeting today about the health condition of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

In a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Dahal briefed about the health condition of DPM Shrestha, shared Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. DPM Shrestha is on an official visit to China.

The Deputy Prime Minister suffered a mild heart attack on Wednesday night. He is receiving treatment at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing.

Also the spokesperson of the government, Minister Sharma, said DPM Shrestha is out of danger. "Prime Minister Dahal has been enquiring about Shrestha's health condition with the Nepali Ambassador to China. DPM Shrestha will stay in Beijing for a few days for treatment," said Minister Sharma.

Similarly, the Cabinet has given permission in principle to formulate a draft of the bill designed to make arrangements regarding the National Human Rights Commission.

The meeting also extended best wishes among all Nepalis in the country and abroad on the occasion of national festivals-- Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat and Chhath.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent visit to China has significant implications for Nepal’s foreign policy. This visit comes at a crucial time, coinciding with the Asian Games, and highlights Nepal’s evolving foreign policy and its intricate relationship with its northern neighbor. Due to the internal conflicts and a political opportunity resulting from the dissolution of the Parliament in July 2021, Dahal transitioned an alliance with the then NCP leader KP Sharma Oli to the Nepali Congress, signaling a noteworthy shift in Nepal’s political landscape, with far-reaching implications for foreign policy. Both domestic and international factors drive this realignment. It raises questions about Nepal’s relationships with major global players, particularly China and India, as well as its standing in the global arena and the geopolitics of South Asia.

A complex relationship

Dynamic shifts and fluctuations have marked a complex relationship between Dahal and China. At the outset of his first term as prime minister in 2008, Dahal established a strong alliance with Beijing, marked by reciprocal support. However, the course of their engagement has been far from steady. In the lead-up to the 2022 elections, Dahal formed an electoral alliance with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led NCP to consolidate political power. Unfortunately, this alliance proved short-lived and ultimately resulted in a dramatic political split, strained Dahal’s relations with Oli and China, which had firmly supported the Oli-led government. This nuanced history illustrates the intricacies of Dahal’s interactions with China, showcasing the challenges and fluctuations in their relationship over the years.

A balancing act

Dahal’s recent move toward a closer alignment with the United States and India signifies Nepal’s deliberate pursuit of a balanced foreign relations strategy. His choice of India as his first official visit during his third tenure as prime minister earlier in the year demonstrates a clear intent to strengthen ties with that country. However, this diplomatic realignment is driven by the imperative to adapt to evolving global dynamics and safeguard Nepal’s sovereignty, given the complex interests of its more powerful neighbors. Rooted in Nepal’s enduring struggle for independence and its aspirations on the global stage, this commitment to a delicate equilibrium reflects the nation’s historical context. As a landlocked nation located between regional giants, Nepal’s leaders face the ongoing challenge of skillfully managing these relationships to protect their country’s interests and secure its continued independence in the international arena.

Chinese interests

China’s interests in Nepal are multifaceted and rooted in its broader geopolitical objectives. One key aspect is Nepal’s adherence to the one-China policy, which aligns with China’s core interests regarding Taiwan and Tibet. This alignment is crucial for China’s territorial integrity. Additionally, China seeks Nepal’s support in international diplomacy, development and security initiatives. Furthermore, Nepal’s involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) theoretically offers China a pathway to expand its regional economic influence and infrastructure.  However, the nine BRI projects signed in Nepal have yet to materialize, partly due to uncertainties surrounding their funding modalities. Strengthening connectivity with Nepal is a strategic avenue for China to extend its influence into South Asia, bolstering its regional presence.

Lastly, China’s ambition to cultivate a trusted and ‘strategic’ relationship with Nepal, as articulated by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Nepal in 2019, has remained a blueprint to direct China’s engagements in Nepal. Nevertheless, Nepal faces the challenge of balancing these multifaceted interests while safeguarding its sovereignty and national interests, demanding adept negotiation skills and a nuanced approach to harmonize democratic principles with its stance on the one-China policy, reflecting a delicate nature of Nepal’s relationship with its influential northern neighbor.

A ceremonial visit

While presented as an effort to strengthen Nepal-China relations, Dahal’s recent visit to China appeared more ceremonial than substantive. Despite engaging with high-ranking Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, and signing 12 agreements, the visit faced limited diplomatic expectations. There was widespread anticipation for Dahal to advocate Nepal’s national interests, particularly concerning the recent contentious Chinese map affecting Nepali territory. The joint statement of the visit primarily consisted of diplomatic pleasantries and reaffirmations of historical ties, with Nepal restating its commitment to the one-China policy but failing to secure reciprocal assurances regarding its concerns. While there were some encouraging elements in the agreements, such as border point reopenings and cooperation in sectors like the BRI, connectivity networks and renewable energy projects, the absence of a much-awaited Project Implementation Plan Agreement and the failure to convert the loan for Pokhara International Airport into a grant were notable misses for Nepal. While potentially financially challenging, Dahal’s commitment to exploring the feasibility of the Jilong/Keyrung-Kathmandu Cross-Border Railway was a notable development.

Dahal’s prioritization of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) over Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) underscores Nepal’s cautious and balanced approach to international security matters. This stance reflects Nepal’s commitment to avoiding entanglement in major power rivalries and safeguarding its sovereignty. Nepal aims to maintain stability in a volatile region by emphasizing development over security, in line with its historical stance of neutrality and non-alignment. The visit ultimately became a standard bilateral exchange; ambitious agreements hold promise, but their impact on the ground level has been limited, reflecting their token nature. 

The way forward

As Prime Minister Dahal’s visit to China marks a pivotal moment for Nepal’s foreign policy, the nation stands at a critical juncture, given its evolving political landscape and changing alliances with regional and international powers. Navigating this landscape requires strategic diplomacy to safeguard Nepal’s sovereignty. Success hinges on the effective execution of agreements and carefully evaluating their implications, shaping Nepal’s foreign policy trajectory to align with its national interests and global aspirations while fostering confidence-building measures with China.

The author is a recent graduate with a Master’s degree in International Relations from South Asian University, New Delhi and is a junior researcher at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism in Lalitpur, Nepal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal may not have any imminent threats to his government, but things are not smooth either. There are strong voices inside the Nepali Congress, key coalition ally in the Dahal-led government, that the party should reconsider its alliance with the CPN (Maoist Center). 

Recently, a faction within the NC urged the party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, to reevaluate the alliance with the Maoists. Leaders warned Deuba that Dahal may not hand over the government reins without the guarantee of another electoral alliance. 

Dahal’s only consolation is that Deuba is still in favor of maintaining the current coalition. 

Voices within the NC are also suggesting that the party should consider joining forces with the main opposition, CPN-UML, instead. Proponents of this alliance argue that the coming together of the two largest parties would diminish the bargaining power of smaller political parties and provide a stronger government capable of amending laws and implementing necessary reforms.

People are growing increasingly frustrated with major political parties due to the government's perceived inability to deliver on its promises. Many believe that the country's overall situation, including its economic prospects, could improve if the two major parties united.

Political analyst Puranjan Acharya, who has close ties with NC leader Shekhar Koirala, says that there are strong internal calls within the party to detach from the current coalition. However, Deuba remains optimistic that Dahal will eventually transfer power to him, and this optimism has hindered substantial discussions with the UML regarding a potential new government.

UML leaders believe that Deuba is being influenced by Prime Minister Dahal and are hesitant to engage in discussions about national politics. As for Deuba and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, they rarely sit for bilateral talks.

The relationship between Deuba and Shekhar Koirala is also deteriorating, with Koirala becoming a vocal critic of the Dahal-led government. A few days back, Koirala accused Prime Minister Dahal of fueling communal violence by supporting identity-based politics. He said that Dahal had a couple of months to mend ways to end anarchy.  And on Monday, Koirala warned Prime Minister Dahal and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka against politicizing the Nepal Army. 

Koirala's faction has even defied Deuba and forged an alliance with the UML in Koshi province, which has remained unstable since the previous election. Koirala has the support of nine provincial assembly members in Koshi, which is too little to form a government. But he worked with the UML to make Kedar Karki the chief minister of the province. 

Karki was appointed the new chief minister of Koshi province with backing from 47 lawmakers—39 from UML and eight from the NC.  To achieve this, Koirala, Minendra Rijal and other Congress leaders had worked very hard. 

Deuba had supported the Maoist candidate. With the backing of leaders like Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Purna Bahadur Khadka, Deuba had even threatened to hand over the chief minister’s post to the Maoist party if his choice of candidate is not allowed to become the chief minister.

The developments in Koshi have reverberated within the federal government, leading to a joint meeting between Dahal, Deuba and Koirala, which resulted in an agreement to accept Karki as the chief minister of the coalition.

A written agreement among three leaders says: “We are firm and clear toward the current power alliance and we will not allow this alliance to weaken under any circumstances.”  The agreement, at least for now, has saved the alliance at the center. 

The UML also  appears positive on welcoming NC in the provincial government, but the party will not entertain other parties including CPN (Maoist Center). It has warned of withdrawing the support to Karki if any other party joins the provincial government.

While it has become clear that Koirala seeks to oust the Dahal-led government, he currently lacks the support within the party to make a decisive move. However, he is gaining ground within the party to challenge Deuba's dominance.

Koirala needs the support of Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa to challenge Deuba, who controls the Parliamentary Party and Central Working Committee. Despite internal divisions, both Koirala and Thapa are united in their stance against forming an electoral alliance with the Maoist party in upcoming local and national elections.

Although the situation in Koshi province may not have an immediate impact on the central coalition, Acharya says, the growing dissatisfaction within the Congress could potentially lead to the emergence of a new coalition in the coming months.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government is ready to form a high-level mechanism for addressing problems seen in the economy at present.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'National Economic Debate' organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here today. On the occasion, the PM said the government is ready to form such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

"It is required that all sectors are at one place and there is a centralized expression for improving the economy. We need this kind of mechanism as we need suggestions and guidelines to initiate a new dimension for economic reforms," the PM said, adding that the efforts for improving the economy could be started from this very point. He asserted that the government is ready to make such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

Chairperson of the Dialogue and FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal had proposed making the high-level mechanism for improving the country's economy and the PM, who addressed the program after this, agreed to the proposal.

Stating that the government is about to take a 'bold decision' for economic reforms, PM Dahal opined that improvement of the overall economy would not be possible through 'minor operation'.

"The main problem of the economy is not resolved despite taking the path of reform. Pathwork-type reforms are not adequate and there needs to be a policy shift," he reiterated. The PM also shared on the occasion that the government has made long efforts to have a synchronization of the finance policy and the monetary policy.

He also claimed that the overall economic situation of the nation could not improve if the government did not facilitate the private sector in their business enterprises. The PM reiterated that Nepal itself will take decisions as to how the problems seen in the country's economy are addressed.

The Prime Minister said the government would restructure the nation's economy through the next fiscal year's annual policies and programs.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said that the citizen's morale has been down due to the narrative that is being fomented forcefully that the economy is in the doldrums. He said this narrative should be shattered.

According to him, although the economy is not growing at present, it is not slumping either. "It would create even more problems if the narrative that the country is crisis-hit is spread," he said and called for the united efforts of all sectors, including the private sector in improving the economy.

FNCCI president Dhakal spoke at length highlighting the condition of the economy, calling for urgent action with the government and the private sectors working together to improve it.

Chief economic advisor of the Ministry of Finance Poshraj Pandey said the current critical economic problem was a continuation of problems that piled up in the past.

Stating that there was no uniformity about the present economic situation (the private sector points out economic problems, but the government denies it), economist Dr Achyut Wagle stressed the need for bringing out facts about the current economic situation.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla called for the government to bring the monetary policy that suits the goals of economic growth.

Vice President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Birendra Raj Pandey said the time has come to restructure Nepal's economy.

Similarly, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce Khimlal Bhandari pointed out structural problems in Nepal's economy.

President of the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries Umesh Prasad Singh ruled that there was no recognition of the contribution of cottage and small to the country's economy.

Also, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Industry and Enterprises Bhagirath Sapkota viewed that the state should recognize the role of cottage and small industries for building socialism-oriented society as envisioned by the constitution of Nepal. Industry friendly laws are also required, he added.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with a Nepali student taking shelter in a bunker in Israel.

He held a discussion with Bipin Subedi, one of the students who had gone to Israel from Sudurpaschim University to pursue higher studies, virtually.

While holding a conversation, the executive head of the state told Subedi that a meeting of the Council of Ministers has been summoned today itself to discuss the matter, and the issue would also be put up in the all-party meeting.

Subedi urged the Prime Minister to carry out rescue operations at the earliest.

Forty-nine students of Sudurpaschim University had gone to Israel. Among them 10 students including seven of Sudurpachim have lost their lives in the attack by Hamas, the Foreign Ministry said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has summoned a special meeting of the Council of Ministers for 4 pm today to discuss the latest developments in Israel and the situation of the Nepali community there.

The meeting aims to assess the situations in the aftermath of an unprecedented attack on Israel and the subsequent developments, evaluate the situation of the Nepali community in Israel, diplomatic efforts that the government is expected to take to ensure their safe arrival and other technical managerial issues, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Likewise, the Prime Minister has called an all-party meeting at 5pm today to discuss the same issue.

The government on Sunday formed the mechanism to comprehensively monitor the situation, evaluate the developments and assess the situation of the Nepali community in Israel and to undertake decisions if rescue is required and coordinate any related efforts.

Earlier on Sunday, Nepali Embassy in Israel had said that 10 Nepali students enrolled in educational institutions in the southern region of Israel had died following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas, the Palestinian group.

The embassy had said that four Nepalis were injured and are receiving treatment at a local hospital while one is still missing.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced to provide relief to Bajhang earthquake victims.

The Prime Minister, who had reached Bajhang to inspect the quake-hit areas, announced to provide Rs 50, 000 to construct temporary houses to the families whose houses were completely destroyed in the earthquake.

Similarly, the Prime Minister has announced to provide Rs 200, 000 to the family of a man who died after being trapped in the landslide following the earthquake.

He said that Rs 15, 000 to 20, 000 immediate relief expenses will be provided to other families affected by the earthquake based on the number of the family members.

The Prime Minister has also announced to provide relief materials like tents, blankets, medicine, food, clothing, and materials needed by differently-abled people.

He said that the materials will be arranged in coordination with the three levels of government.

Prime Minister Dahal said that the arrangements will be made to provide free treatment to the injured and the government offices, community buildings and schools damaged in the earthquake will be reconstructed soon.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded projects have paved the way for new opportunities in areas of economic cooperation between Nepal and the US.

He also expressed his hopes of enhancing trade connectivity for Nepal throughout Asia, and that the effective implementation of the compact’s projects would contribute significantly to Nepal's economic development and poverty reduction. He appreciated the US Government for continued cooperation and assistance.  Speaking at a program to celebrate the launch of the MCC-Nepal compact, PM Dahal and senior leaders expressed their full-commitment to expedite the implementation of MCC projects.

The five-year program was launched on 30 Aug 2023, with an Entry into Force (EIF) letter exchange between Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and MCC Vice-president-Compact Operations Cameron Alford. The project will have to be completed within the next four years and six months.   

EIF is an important milestone for MCC compacts as it marks the fulfillment of necessary conditions and sufficient preparations to ensure successful completion of compact projects within a five-year timeline. Minister Mahat expressed his belief that the MCC Nepal Compact’s projects will support Nepal’s growth and benefit the people of Nepal through better roads and more reliable electricity.

In her remarks, MCC CEO Albright said: “We worked with the Government of Nepal to set ambitious goals with this program in order to achieve great things with the people of Nepal. We stand ready to be a steadfast partner and have full confidence in the leadership of the Government of Nepal and their implementing agency, MCA-Nepal.”

“We are ready to face the inevitable challenges together and deliver a successful program,” US Ambassador Dean R Thompson added that “the MCC-Nepal Compact is another in a long line of important US initiatives supporting economic growth for the Nepali people and marks yet another significant milestone in the 76-year long friendship between Nepal and the United States.”

During her three-day visit, MCC CEO Albright met with key government officials and stakeholders in the implementation of the Compact, attended a tree-planting ceremony to emphasize the importance MCC places on environmental protection and climate preservation, and observed ongoing work with the Department of Roads in training engineers to use climate-smart, sustainable technology to create a safer transportation network that is easier to maintain and better for the environment.  

Highlighting the Compact’s aim to foster inclusive economic growth for the people of Nepal, MCC CEO Albright also met with women executives who shared with her their experiences, work, and hopes for a more prosperous Nepal.

The GoN and MCC signed the MCC Nepal Compact on 14 Sept 2017 for two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project and the Road Maintenance Project, which will result in more reliable electricity and more cost-effective transportation in Nepal.

Alice Albright, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is confident that two vital projects—a transmission line’s construction and road upgrades—under MCC Nepal Compact will be completed within the five-year deadline. Initiated in August, just four years and 11 months remain to meet this goal.  

In an exclusive conversation with a select group of journalists, Albright highlighted that the top leaders of Nepal’s three major political parties—CPN (Maoist Center), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML—stand firmly in favor of these projects’ execution. After meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, she said that she received their unequivocal commitment to removing any obstacles that might hinder the progress of these projects. 

During the press conference, senior officials from MCA-Nepal reported that they have not encountered any major challenges in the field during the project’s implementation.

Highlights

• Investment $500m from the United Nations and $197 from Nepal
• Electricity transmission project: Up to 66 percent Nepal homes and businesses will gain better access to clean Nepali hydropower
• Road maintenance project: Up to 130 km cost-effective, safer, climate sustainable roads along national highways
• Introduction of innovative, sustainable full depth reclamation and superpave asphalt technology for road maintenance

The joint press statement issued after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s China visit contains elements that can drag Nepal into the geopolitical rivalry between China and US, experts have warned. They fear that the statement may even give rise to questions over Nepal’s long-standing policy of non-alignment.

It is obvious that Nepal does not want to get caught in the US-China rivalry. But Clause 6 of the statement reads, “Recognizing that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the Nepali side is against ‘Taiwan independence’.”

Though not explicitly mentioned in the document, parts of GCI and GSI have been incorporated in the press statement.  In the past, Nepal used to reaffirm its commitment to one-China policy without further elaboration. The document explicitly states that Nepali side is against Taiwanese independence. The document further says that Nepali Nepali side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle.

Geopolitical analyst Vijay Kanta Karna argues that it is wrong to mention “principle” instead of “policy” in the joint statement. “How will Nepal apply this principle in other areas?” he questions, describing the use of the word “principle” instead of “policy” in the document as ‘very concerning and disturbing’.

According to Karna, Nepal has been consistently expressing commitment to “one-China policy” in the official document without much talk about Taiwan. Now, however, Nepal itself has gotten involved in this issue, he observes, “Nepal has become a part of international geopolitics between America and China unnecessarily, This is an unwarranted statement.”

This policy is different from the policy that the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba government had adopted. When US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit to Taiwan caused tensions, Nepal just said it was closely following the developments and reiterated its commitment to one-China policy, despite pressure from the Chinese side to side with it on the issue of Taiwan. The statement shows Nepal is trying to align with China’s national security, Karna says.

Foreign policy expert Gopal Khanal agrees that there was no need for Nepal to mention Taiwan in the joint statement because our one-China policy covers all issues. As there was no progress on BRI, Dahal agreed to such a language to appease the Chinese, Khanal says: Such acts may put us in a difficult situation.

On Global Security Initiatives (GSI) and Global Civilizational Initiative (GCI), China expected Nepal to support and welcome the initiatives. According to the officials, this was mentioned in the first draft of the statement, only to be omitted after the Nepali side did not agree. Nepal has welcomed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) with two projects under it already implemented in the country.

“China supports Nepal’s independent choice of social system and development path that suits its national conditions,” the joint statement reads further, in a marked departure from the past. 

PM Dahal’s China visit has failed to make remarkable progress on development cooperation and it was heavily focused on security issues. Per the statement, the two sides agreed to expedite the ratification of the China-Nepal Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, though the matter is sub-judice in Nepal’s Supreme Court.

The reasons behind the inclusion of terms like ‘social system’ and ‘development path’ in the joint statement aren’t clear, either. According to analyst Karna, ‘social system’ is a part of GCI and Nepal’s development path has already been determined in Nepal’s Constitution and there are no questions over it in Nepal. Experts fear that such carelessness on the part of the PM may affect Nepal’s principled position of not engaging in great power confrontations and sticking to the policy of non-alignment.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left for Bajhang on Friday to inspect the quake-affected areas.

Prime Minister Dahal left for western Nepal on a Nepal Army chopper this morning, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to inspect the quake-affected areas and hold a meeting with the District Disaster Management Committee.

The executive head of the state said that the process of distributing relief materials to the Bajhang quake victims soon.

During a meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held in Singha Durbar on Thursday, Prime Minister Dahal said that the process of distributing relief materials to the quake victims and reconstructing the damaged structures will be taken ahead.

Gunamati Dhami (40) of Jayaprithvi Municipality-11, Okhal had lost his life to the earthquake on Tuesday.

Police said that the quake caused damage to 135 houses in the district.

Two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 6.3 on the Richter scale respectively jolted Bajhang district on Tuesday afternoon.

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma has come down heavily on the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led ruling coalition, likening it to a slow poison for the republic and questioning its commitment to democracy, the Constitution and its conduct of foreign relations. 

Oli launched a multi-pronged attack against the Dahal-led dispensation through his address to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, saying, “This government cannot administer one fatal dose (to democracy and the republican order). Nonetheless, it is acting as a slow poison for democracy and the Constitution. 

He accused the Dahal-led dispensation of suppressing the voices of the people and conspiring to render the Parliament useless by not giving businesses to the House and its committees. 

Oli went on to elaborate the characteristics of the dispensation thus, “While this government does not do what the Constitution has told it to do, it does what the Charter has barred it from doing—without fail”. 

Referring to the recent Cabinet decision to declare Fagun 1—the day the Maoist insurgency was waged 27 years ago (13 Feb 1996)—as a public holiday, the UML chair accused the government of glorifying violence through the move. The decision to celebrate the day has further hurt the sentiments of conflict victims, Oli said, demanding that the next Cabinet meeting withdraw the decision. 

He also protested the government move to grant blanket amnesty to criminals in the name of marking Constitution Day and turning the President into an entity that does the government’s bidding. 

Oli also took the government to task on ongoing investigations into corruption cases. The government opened Lalita Niwas scam files with much hullabaloo, now it is finding it hard to close them, Oli claimed, “The (60-kg) gold-smuggling case is also giving the government a hard time.” 

The government’s good governance campaign is actually aimed at shielding smugglers and murderers, he went on. 

This dispensation has appointed those candidates, who failed exams for district judges, as well as those who helped out election candidates from the ruling dispensation as judges, he maintained, adding that it is futile to hope for a better performance from this government. 

The conduct of diplomacy also came under Oli’s crosshairs as the latter blamed PM Dahal for failing to raise Nepal’s concerns during his recent visits to the United Nations, China and India.   

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has briefed the party about his recent visit to the United States of America to attend the 78th Session of United Nations General Assembly and the subsequent official visit to China.

In a meeting of the party office-bearers today, Dahal said Nepal's participation in the UNGA had helped promote Nepal's identity globally.  "From Nepal's participation in the UN mega event, the world community could know about Nepal better."

Talking about his visit to the northern neighbor, the Prime Minister said bilateral agreements and understandings reached during the visit were of long-term importance for Nepal's development, according to party Vice-Chairman and spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota.

"The meeting with the UN general secretary and other meetings held on the sidelines of the event were important," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in the party meeting.

The Prime Minister was learnt to have described the agreement for cooperation between the National Planning Commission and China's National Development and Reform Commission, on the development of cross-border transmission lines and on agriculture and science technology as important ones.

 The meeting instructed the party leaders and cadres to contribute to making the ' transformation campaign' launched by the party since September 2 successful.

Prime Minister Dahal Dahal had on September 16 departed for the United Nations headquarters in New York and had directly embarked on the China visit from there, beginning on September 23.  He returned home on September 30.

Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Alice P. Albright, who arrived in Kathmandu along with her team on Sunday evening, is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today.

The Albright-led American delegation arrived in Kathmandu, a month after the formal beginning of the MCC Compact implementation.

The MCC compact implementation formally began on August 30.

The Albright-led delegation landed in Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu via Qatar on Sunday.

During her stay in Nepal, Albright is scheduled to inquire about the progress and problems in MCC and also observe some areas of the MCC project.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to withdraw its latest decision of hiking the price of petroleum products.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting of the Council of Ministers today, Minister for Communications and Information Technology and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said the Prime Minister has already directed the NOC to take back the price hike.

"The Prime Minister has directed the Nepal Oil Corporation to withdraw its decision of raising the price of petroleum products effective from today itself. Although the Corporation has adopted the automated pricing system, the PM issued this directive keeping in mind the problems this (the decision to hike price) would create to the people during the festival time," she said.

The government spokesperson said that the NOC will issue a notice today itself retaining the earlier price of petroleum products.

NOC on Saturday hiked the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 6 per liter, of kerosene by Rs 2 per liter and aviation fuel (both domestic and international) by Rs 8 per liter.

Similarly, the price of LP Gas was increased by Rs 215 per cylinder.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting in Baluwatar on Sunday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed formation of a high-level probe commission to investigate the gold smuggling case.

It has been learnt that the meeting ended on a positive note.

The Prime Minister will be addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) session today and the announcement of the formation of the Commission was likely before the session commences.

It may be noted that the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) had on July 19 confiscated around 61 kilos of gold that was smuggled into the country via Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to UML whip Mahesh Bartaula, the meeting ended on a positive note and they were close to a consensus regarding the agenda and jurisdiction of the Commission.

Though the ruling and opposition parties earlier agreed to constitute the Commission, consensus on its agenda and jurisdictions was awaited.

The UML continues to obstruct the House following the confiscation of the gold, demanding the formation of a high-level probe commission to deal with the gold scam.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently on an official visit to China, held a bilateral meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province Wang Xiaohui-led Chinese delegation on Friday.

Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province

Recalling the high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and the agreements signed between the two countries, Prime Minister Dahal expressed his belief that the visit to Chongqing, Tibet and Sichuan and the meeting with party chiefs will be a new milestone in the implementation of the agreement and the development of a new and high-level relations between the two countries.

On the occasion, Secretary Wang expressed his belief that Dahal is a good friend of China and that Nepal-China relations will be developed on a new basis.

Wang said that they are committed to implement the agreements signed between Nepal and China.

Prime Minister Dahal-led delegation is scheduled to return home from Chengdu on Saturday.