KATHMANDU: Top political leaders of parliamentary parties have agreed to move forward the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, a bilateral United States foreign aid agency established by the U.S. Congress in 2004, in the House of Representatives (HoR).
The leaders have decided, at an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister KP Oli Saturday, to summon a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the HoR and discuss with BAC members to move the MCC pact ahead. They are positive about the initiative.
Leaders such as Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, PM and CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, Rastra Prajatantra Party (RPP) Co-chairpersons Prakash Chandra Lohani, Kamal Thapa and Pashupati Sumsher JBR have been arguing the positive aspects of the bilateral aid so as to convince other leaders opposing the agreement.
In the all-party meeting held at PM Oli’s official residence in Baluwatar yesterday, major parties in the parliament discussed the MCC pact and agreed to create a conducive environment for it to be put to vote in the parliament.
Meanwhile, PM Oli accused HoR Speaker Agni Sapkota of misusing his prerogative to put the MCC pact and other crucial treaties on hold. The PM is of the view that Speaker should present the pact for debate and put to vote the business provided by the government. “The Speaker does not have the right to hold any business given by the government,” PM Oli said.
PM Oli also warned that alternative to the Speaker must be sought if the incumbent Speaker stood on the path of development of the country. The MCC pact will bring in foreign aid in developmental sectors such as infrastructure, electricity, transport and connectivity, among others.
Before yesterday’s meeting at Baluwatar, NC leaders also held informal discussion at Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha. NC President Deuba, too, expressed concern over the passage of MCC at the informal meeting.
According to a leader, who attended NC’s informal meeting, Deuba was of the view that PM Oli alone could not pass the MCC pact and the NC needed to take initiatives to put the pact to vote. All other leaders in the meeting agreed with party president.
At the all-party meeting called by PM Oli too, NC leaders raised the issue. NC President Deuba said leaders opposing the pact would come around if NC takes initiative but it would take some time to convince them. Thus, Deuba has sought some time so as to use his influence to bring around young, energetic Maoist leaders and others lawmakers.
Top leaders of political parties too are of the view that changing the mind of Speaker is possible if NC takes initiatives. They are of the view that the HoR vote will decide what happens to MCC pact, however, it needs to be put to a vote.
MCC Compact was tabled in the House of Representatives (HoR) on July 15, 2019. However, formal debate and voting on the agreement is yet to take place.
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