HoR ratifies MCC compact with 12-point interpretative declaration

Kathmandu: The House of Representatives has ratified the MCC compact with 12-point interpretative declaration.

Earlier, the House meeting had approved a proposal seeking deliberation on the 12-point interpretative declaration over the MCC Compact.

Lawmakers from various political parties discussed the declaration in the second session of the House meeting.

n the 12-point interpretative declaration, Nepal declares that Nepal shall not be a part of any United States’ strategic, military or security alliance, including the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Likewise, Nepal declares that the Constitution of Nepal shall prevail over the Compact and other associated agreements. The interpretative declaration incorporates and addresses the issues and concerns being raised in political and civil fronts.

In the first session of the meeting, the House approved a proposal seeking the general deliberations on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma tabled the proposal in the first session of the house meeting.

Some lawmakers expressed their views in fovour of the MCC compact while some put forth their views against the compact amidst obstruction from the main opposition CPN-UML.

Speaking over the proposal, lawmaker from the CPN Unified Socialist and also former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal demanded all the documents related to the MCC compact be presented in the parliament and said the MCC compact should be discussed only after a thorough study on the compact.

Similarly, Lawmaker and former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai opined that the compact should be ratified in consensus with all the political parties including the main opposition CPN-UML.

Chief Whip of the CPN Maoist Centre Dev Gurung said the compact should be ratified if it was only a financial project and demanded the ruling alliance clarify the interpretative declaration made in relation to the compact.

Likewise, CPN-UML lawmaker Bhim Rawal expressed that the compact should be rejected claiming it was not in favour of the national interest of Nepal.

Nepali Congress Lawmaker Gagan Thapa stressed the need for endorsing the compact and urged all not no get swayed by rumours about the compact.

Answering the queries raised over the proposal, Finance Minister Sharma expressed the government was committed to national sovereignty and integrity and clarified that the government would not sign any agreement against the national interest.

Saying the MCC compact is for the development and prosperity of Nepal, the finance minister urged the main opposition CPN-UML to participate in the issue of national interest.

Similarly, in the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dilendra Prasad Badu presented the annual report of the Office of Auditor General for the fiscal year 2020-21, on behalf of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.