Prasai clarifies viral photo with Arju Rana, says it was taken two-and-a-half years ago

KATHMANDU: Durga Prasai has clarified that his Prasai clarifies viral photo with Arju Rana, says it was taken two-and-a-half years ago.

Speaking to media after being released from custody following a Supreme Court order on Wednesday, Prasai said the meeting took place when Rana was serving as Foreign Minister.

“I had met Arju Rana about two-and-a-half years ago when she was the Foreign Minister. I had gone to inquire about the affiliation brought from abroad for Ullens School,” Prasai said. “Now that old photo has been made viral.”

He added that taking photographs with political leaders should not be given undue meaning.

“I have taken photos with Prachanda, KP, Girija Prasad and even Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Just because someone has taken a photo with someone does not mean anything,” he said.

However, some media outlets had claimed that Rana and Prasai held a secret meeting to disrupt the upcoming House of Representatives by-election scheduled for March 5.The reports also alleged that Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka facilitated the meeting.

According to those reports, Prasai had first met Khadka at his residence on  January 22, and a subsequent meeting between Rana and Prasai was arranged four days later. Another meeting was reportedly held on January 26 at Khadka’s residence.

The reports further claimed that Prasai, coordinator of the campaign “Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizen Protection Mega Campaign,” had worn visible yellow socks during the meeting on January 22, as seen in a circulated photograph.

Prasai, however, has dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the viral photo is old and unrelated to the current political developments.