The issue of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has been widely discussed in the ruling coalition. Although the ruling party Nepali Congress (NC) has agreed to pass the MCC, other coalition partners are striving to seek consensus within their parties.
In such a situation, the question of whether the coalition will remain intact or not has also been seen as a complicated issue.
Khabarhub approached leader and lawmaker of ruling NC, Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, and talked on various issues including ratification of the MCC, addressing CPN-UML’s obstruction of the parliament, and fixing the date for the local election. Excerpts:
MCC debate seems to influence the ruling coalition. Why?
Not just MCC, the political parties are likely to have diverse opinions on many national and international issues. The coalition includes the presence of many former prime ministers.
NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, Janata Samajbadi Party’s Federal Council Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli are all former prime ministers.
They are all responsible leaders who are connected with MCC from the very beginning. None of them can escape from MCC on one pretext or the other.
Second, all parties have more obligation to hold elections than the government. As this is the responsibility of the government, the NC-led government has fulfilled the responsibility of coordination.
Though all the parties should be involved in this, discussions, debates and fixing the date of the election have been coordinated under NC leadership.
Issues like MCC and elections should not be made the issues of political interests and manipulations.
Why is MCC a priority to Nepali Congress?
We Nepalis have a habit of ‘rejoicing in debt, and growing skeptic with grants’. MCC is not new, all parties have advocated and received foreign grants during their leadership in the government.
Every government is working with foreign grants. An agreement has already been reached at the government level in this regard as well.
Implementation has also started. So there is no point protesting now. There have been some people misleading and misguiding the issue.
Otherwise, MCC has to be a priority not only to NC but to all Nepali people. There is no dispute about this. There is an obligation to make an act to pass the MCC.
That act can be made and amended in the days ahead. As Constitution itself can be amended, there is no big issue in making an amendment.
There are rumors that PM Deuba is mulling over getting MCC ratified from the parliament even at the cost of the existing coalition. What do you say in this regard?
This government is not formed just to pass the MCC, hence, it will not collapse merely because of MCC. This coalition government is formed to protect, safeguard and implement the Constitution as per its (constitution’s) spirit.
Therefore, this government is responsible and accountable to the citizens. Some diverse opinions have manifested only when NC has been fulfilling its responsibilities.
The NC-led government cannot shirk its responsibilities. This alliance has been formed to work in the best interest of the country and its people.
NC will not ward off its responsibilities for the sake of the coalition. However, the coalition itself is in favor of the best interest of the people as well.
What is the reason for Maoist Center leaders’ strong opposition when it comes to MCC?
The MCC was moved forward during the Maoist Center-led government. It is incomprehensible why the Maoist Center leaders who are in the government again are so skeptical about the Compact.
They have raised the issue of amendment in the MCC. But why is PM Deuba not ready for it?
Some groups have deliberately created confusion on MCC. There are more confusions about MCC than reality. If the Constitution is amended, then this MCC will also be amended.
MCC will not make a few nationalists and others the traitors. Rather, this grant is meant for the development of Nepal.
There is no reason to be skeptical about it. Everything that can be amended is amended. Everyone is ready for it. PM Deuba does not have anything to disagree with in this regard.
How will the MCC which is raising concerns in the alliance, be endorsed?
This coalition government is meant to work on behalf of the people. MCC will be passed.
The election will be held and the constitution will be enforced effectively as well. This means that the alliance has been formed to work.
Therefore, the alliance will not collapse for the works done by the government.
Supporting the coalition government is the responsibility of the five parties in the coalition. The coalition partners will consider whether any issue is serious enough to affect the alliance.
Yet, the government has to execute its responsibilities at its best. Although MCC is made an issue of late, it will be passed, it is only a matter of time.
UML has been obstructing the parliament for quite a long time. How will the parliament pass the MCC?
MCC is an important grant. It is one of the grants provided by the largest grant donor — the United States.
Skepticism should not get ground for such grants. Chanting slogans for or against someone does not develop the country.
UML has obstructed the parliament. But this obstruction is not meant to go till eternity. UML will soon agree in letting the parliament function normally.
MCC requires national consensus. How can it be that the political parties which stood together to pass the new map of Nepal will not stand together to accept the grant that is in the best interest of Nepal and the Nepali people?
After all, all the senior leaders of all the national parties are involved in the MCC issue. No one can escape.
Concerning the local election, there are reports that the coalition has agreed on the local election date. However, it is said that NC will desert the coalition and go to election alone.
This is a decision to be made by the party. NC has yet to decide on this. The election will be held in May. There is no hurry to talk about it now. The party will make its strategy.
Now the government is making preparations to hold elections. Elections will not be held by breaking the alliance. The alliance will last till the election. There is no doubt about it.
What is the NC interested in holding the elections of all three levels simultaneously?
Various opinions have come to the floor for discussion. It is not only for the interest of NC. The interest of the NC lies in the effective implementation of the Constitution.
We have reiterated holding the elections of all three levels for the implementation of the Constitution.
However, the issue of conducting all levels of elections at the same time is for a change. Now, the parties have agreed to hold the local elections first. NC’s interest in holding elections and nothing else.
Is NC’s strategy is to defeat the CPN-UML by taking the alliance till the election?
It is like communists to speak more. They speak more and work less. NC does not have any intention of defeating anyone.
Our strategy is to make NC victorious. Despite its defeat, NC had held elections in 2008 and 2017. So now the government holds elections, that is all. Victory or defeat — they are the outcomes one has to concede after the election.
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