KATHMANDU: A Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) which began on Friday is continuing on Saturday.

The meeting held on Friday basically focused on the border dispute with India and the widely-talked-about Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), among other issues.

In the meeting, as many as 18 standing committee members raised the issue of Nepal’s border dispute with India and China, informed NCP Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha.

Prime Minister KP Oli, however, abstained from yesterday’s meeting that took place at the Prime Minister’s Official residence, Baluwatar. Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal chaired Friday’s meeting.

A meeting held on Wednesday had set seven agendas for discussion, including MCC, control of COVID-19, its prevention and treatment, Nepal’s border issue, government’s performance, review of party’s activities and remaining works of an organizational merger among others.

On the occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali informed the meeting about efforts being made on the part of the government in resolving the border dispute with India.

He informed that the Government of Nepal sent three formal letters in November, December and January to India proposing for talks to settle the border disputes. “India hasn’t responded yet,” he said adding, “India ignored our proposal.”

Sources said Minister Gyawali refuted news reports that China had encroached upon Nepal’s territory saying that there was no evidence encroachment. “This is all baseless,” the source quoted him as saying.

It should be noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had on Thursday issued a statement refuting such claims.

Friday’s meeting also discussed other issues, including the Rukum incident, Citizenship Bill and allowances of lawmakers of the Federal Parliament.

Similarly, Standing Committee members Lilamani Pokharel, Matrika Yadav, Dev Gurung, Gokarna Bisht, Chhavilal BK, Amrit Bohora, Pampha Bhusal, Shankar Pokharel, Beduram Bhusal, Raghubir Mahaseth, Bhim Rawal, Mukund Neupane, Bhim Acharya, Ashtalakshmi Shakya, Ganesh Shah, Keshav Badal and Narayan Kaji Shrestha also aired their views during the meeting.

Earlier, a decision to convene a Secretariat meeting to discuss MCC was made to finalize the party’s stance on the widely-talked-about MCC.

It should, however, be recalled that the NCP had earlier entrusted the Parliament to decide the fate of MCC.

The ruling party is divided on the issue. While Dahal, senior leaders Jhalanath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, party leader Bhim Rawal and others are against the endorsement of the MCC, PM K P Oli, Defense Minister Ishwor Pokhrel, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and others are in favor of endorsing it.

The NCP had earlier formed a task force led by senior leader Khanal and including Foreign Minister Gyawali and standing committee member Rawal as members on February 2 to study MCC.

The task force later said it should not be endorsed without amendment.