Kathmandu. The CPN (Unified Socialist) and the CPN (Maoist Center) finally agreed to make an institutional decision to pass the much-discussed US aid agreement, the MCC. Following the warning of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to break the alliance if the agreement is not passed, the Maoist Center and the Unified Socialists have decided to pass the MCC with explanatory remarks.
The meeting of the UCPN (M) decided to approve the MCC at the residence of Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Khumaltar. Similarly, the Unified Socialists had taken a decision on MCC from the secretariat meeting. It was agreed at the meeting that the legal practitioners would prepare a commentary on the points of contention regarding the MCC agreement and pass the agreement based on the same interpretation. However, due to fierce opposition between the leaders of these two parties, it was very difficult for the leadership to make an institutional decision.
The UML, which has adopted a wait-and-see policy, has also come close to an agreement on the issue. The UML, which is trying to create an environment where the UML is right in front of the people, came close to an agreement to pass the MCC after a meeting with Prime Minister Deuba. That is why UML president KP Sharma Oli has been saying, “Where have we stopped to pass the MCC?” When the UML passed the MCC, the government toppled it.
We have taken it to the parliament for approval, ”said UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel. Speaking to media persons after a meeting with top leaders of the Nepali Congress, including the Prime Minister, at the residence of party president KP Sharma Oli in Balkot on Saturday, General Secretary Pokharel said that the demands of the UML would be addressed.
He also said that he would not remove the obstruction of the parliament unless the speaker is removed. He told the media that it was agreed to continue discussions on the country’s democratic future and national interests. With the United States setting a Monday deadline for a decision on the MCC, the Nepali Congress stepped-up dialogue to ratify it. Prime Minister Deuba and Nepali Congress leaders, who have been intensifying the political meeting, said that the Balkot talks were positive.
Leaders said that the discussion between UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UML leaders in Balkot was positive. Though the top leaders of the two parties had their own stand in the discussion, one of the leaders who agreed on the issue of MCC responded. According to the government, the UML has maintained its stance of removing the speaker and dismissing 14 lawmakers who have been sacked by the party, but UML spokesperson and Minister for Communications Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the UML was positive in the MCC.
Minister for Communications Karki, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Congress Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, and General Secretary Gagan Thapa was present at the discussion. As soon as the MCC was tabled in the parliament, the leaders said that the ruling coalition was in crisis and decided to preserve the coalition and pass the MCC. Until a few days ago, the Maoists and the Unified Socialists had taken a stand against the MCC.
Only three times after the MCC agreement was tabled, Prime Minister Deuba reached Oli’s residence in Balkot and held talks. The Maoists and the Unified Socialists, who have been taking a stand to vote in the opposition, have come to the conclusion of passing the MCC and safeguarding the ruling coalition after the government-led Congress continued dialogue with the opposition. Prachanda had held discussions with the top leaders of the Unified Socialists to save the ruling coalition.
It is said that by doing internal homework within the party, Dahal finally came to the conclusion of saving the alliance and passing the MCC. UCPN (Maoist) leader Haribol Gajurel clarified that his party has been discussing the issue of passing the MCC. He said Gajurel told Bikalp that efforts were being made to save the ruling coalition as there was still some work to be done in the peace process. The second-tier leaders of the Congress, the Maoist Center, and the Unified Socialists had to do their homework to get the top leadership to agree. Leader of the CPN-Unified Socialist Party and Urban Development Minister Ram Kumari Jhankri said that there was a broad consensus on the issue of passing the MCC with an explanatory announcement. With the MCC looming over the alliance and the possibility of Congress reaching an agreement with the UML, the leaders of the UCPN (M) and the Unified Socialists have come to the option of preserving the alliance and staying in power.
Passed MCC: Dahal
UCPN (Maoist) Central Committee Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who has been playing a double role in the politics of power, has been forced to reach a decision to pass the MCC while Dahal is showing a divisive character in the streets, government, and parliament. Chairman of the Maoist Center Dahal, who has always been in power and has been making himself the focal point, has claimed that the MCC will also pass if the ruling coalition is not broken. Calling the MCC a traitor, he has been in favor of taking the activists to the streets, and in recent times, he has been in favor of getting them passed by the parliament.
After Prime Minister Deuba was busy discussing with the UML that he would step down and break the alliance if he did not agree to pass the MCC, he responded that he would move forward on the path of consensus with the media. He said, “We are discussing, the problem will be solved, the alliance will not be broken, the MCC will also pass through consensus.”
Instead of stepping down from power, Dahal is now on the verge of passing the MCC. His double standard activists have been widely criticized on social media. Meanwhile, lawyer and Maoist center leader MP Ram Narayan Bidari said that an agreement has been reached to pass the MCC.
Leader Bidari said that the MCC amendment would be approved by the parliament. “The MCC has passed with amendments,” he said. We should not say that we will follow the policy that the United States will make and take in the future. It should have an explanatory comment. This should be explained by the Nepali Parliament. All we have to do is the study and decide. He claimed that the alliance would not be broken as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had clearly stated that he would maintain the current alliance.
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