KATHMANDU: President of International Relations Committee (IRC) Pabitra Niraula Kharel has expressed apprehension over the possibility of US State Partnership Program (SPP) being endorsed along with explanatory notes as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Such apprehension made room in the parliametary panel following Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s absence in IRC meeting held today (Sunday).

At today’s IRC meeting, President Kharel, recalling that MCC was passed with an explanatory notes, said, “Is the SPP going to share similar fate? Even the public has such fears.”

The Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had been invited to today’s IRC meeting to discuss his July visit to the United States, Nepal’s foreign policy, and SPP, among other issues.

Prime Minister Deuba did not attend the IRC meeting today as his secretariat, at the elevent hour, informed the panel that he could not be present.

Subsequently, UML lawmakers demanded to pass a motion seeking apology from the PM, saying the prime minister had insulted the parliamentary committee.

Though the panel did not pass such motion, Kharel said that the prime minister should be summoned to the meeting again. “There is talk of US military coming to Nepal and everyone is worried. Let’s invite the prime minister again.”

Meanwhile, the panel has decided to draw the PM’s attention towards his absence in the meeting today.

The IRC had discussed the matters related to foreign policy with Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka and Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma, among others, last Friday.