UML TO PROTEST AGAINST 'ANTI-NATIONAL' ACCORD WITH INDIA

UML TO PROTEST ‘ANTI-NATIONAL’ PACT SIGNED BY MAOISTS WITH INDIA

Kathmandu, 22 Oct.: CPN-UML has objected to the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) signed Friday between Nepal and India

The agreement will harm Nepali nationalism, sovereignty, national integrity and economy; the party said, and warned to launch stern agitation against the agreement.

The agreement was signed at the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday during the four-day official visit of the PM.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal objected to it while addressing a program organized by the Naya Naikap Village Party Committee on the occasion of the festivals of Bijaya Dashami, Deepawali and Chhath and Nepal Sambat new year.

He asked what nationalism was this of Dr. Bhattarai who said he will not sign any agreements in the country and signed it after reaching India. Khanal said the PM, who was never tired of speaking on nationalism, had his nationalism over and done with, after he reached India.

This agreement is anti-national and my party will agitate against it, he said. He, however, said the peace process and constitution-writing were in the final stages, and more consensus was necessary between the parties.

At the program presided over by Village Party Committee Chairman Rajbhai Maharjan, Khanal honored senior citizens, whereas UML Secretary Yubaraj Gyawali also expressed his views, RSS reports
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai admitted in New Delhi Saturday he took risk in signing what has now become a controversial agreement with India Friday during his current four-day India visit.
‘I took a risk. Big accusations will come. I knew it,” the premier admitted.
Before the embarked on a four-day visit, all parties, including his own UCPN (Maoist) had asked him not to sign controversial agreements conceding Nepali interests.
Maoist party even downgraded the visit described as official by the two South Asian neighbouring states to a goodwill visit.
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