KATHMANDU: A Secretariat meeting of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has decided to hand over the responsibility to the parliament to deal with all the programs related to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, spokesperson of the NCP, said all the programs related to MCC will be implemented only after it is endorsed by the Parliament. It is sub judice in the parliament, now.
“If the parliament endorses the MCC, all the programs related to it, as included in the budget for the fiscal year 2020/21, will come into operation accordingly,” said Shrestha, adding, “If it is not endorsed, the government will seek an alternative solution to carry out these programs.”
Even though the MCC programs are included in the budget, they will not bar it from getting endorsed, said Shrestha and added that those programs related to MCC will remain on hold until it is endorsed by the parliament.
The parliament will take necessary decisions on the MCC compact reached between the Nepal and the United States of America, the Secretariat meeting decided.
Talking to journalists, NCP Senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal said, “Today’s meeting focused on the issues surrounding the MCC project. Lawmakers cast doubt and raised a question whether the government was trying to get the MCC endorsed by including it in the budget indirectly.”
Khanal clarified that the MCC will not come into operation unless it is endorsed by the parliament.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said he has laid down a provision in the budget according to which the programs related to MCC compact will be implemented only after it is endorsed by the parliament.
Held at Baluwatar, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, leader Bhim Rawal, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali among others were present in the NCP Secretariat meeting.
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