KATHMANDU: Khabahub is organizing the “Khabarhub Debate” on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): Facts and Fictions this afternoon.

As many as 17 experts, including former ambassadors, former diplomats, entrepreneurs, among others, will put forth their views on MCC at the debate to be organized in the Pavilion Hall, Durbarmarg at 2 pm.

Speakers in the program include Dr. Govind Pokhrel, former Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission; Prof Dr. Gandhi Pandit, Professor of Law; Dr. Dinesh Kumar Sharma, Professor/Engineer; and Prof Vijay Kant Karna, former Ambassador to Denmark.

Likewise, other speakers include Semanta Dahal, Advocate; Prashant Singh, leader of Janata Samajbadi Party; Shailendra Guragain, hydropower developer; Prakash Dulal, entrepreneur; Binoj Basnyat, Major General (Retd.); and Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, hydropower entrepreneur.

Similarly, Dambar Khatiwada, analyst; Devesh Jha, political analyst; Saroj Mishra, analyst; Arun Kumar SUbedi, political analyst; Gopal Thapa, former Chief of Protocol at Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ganesh Kumar Mandal, Madhesi Intellectual, engineer Ashish Adhikari, and Communication Specialist Bibek Subedi will also express their views.

The MCC has been a widely-discussed issue in Nepal of late with the visit of Fatema Z. Sumar, Vice President of MCC Compact Operations, to Nepal on September 9, and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu on November 17.

During their visits, they held talks with political leaders, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, political leaders, government officials, and business and community leaders.

During their meetings here in Kathmandu, they specifically affirmed that the MCC grant program has no military component, will not impede Nepal’s sovereignty, and Nepal’s constitution will prevail over the agreement.

Prior to negotiating and signing the compact in 2017, the Government of Nepal had designed the 5-year grant program to provide more reliable electricity and lower power and transportation costs for all Nepalis.