Senior leader of the ruling CPN Madhav Kumar Nepal has defended his participation in the Asia Pacific Summit held by a missionary organization in the ongoing standing committee meeting.
Speaking in the standing committee meeting Sunday morning, Nepal pointed that the objective of the four-day summit starting on November 30 was not religious promotion, and claimed that the summit has been falsely attacked in an organized manner.
"The program was not organized to promote religion. But there was an effort to explain it in that manner to the general public. We would not have attended if it had religious objectives," Nepal argued.
The government was co-organizer of the summit organized by Universal Peace Federation of South Korea and Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli, who stayed in a hotel along with invitees for the summit for three days, received good governance award with cash prize of US$ 100,000 on the last day of the summit.
Nepal claimed that he will never attend any program against the provisions of the country's constitution. "I am committed to the stand of the party and state for secularism. We have respect for all the religions and cultures, and our historic traditions," Nepal clarified. "Many were involved in a planned propaganda to stoke hatred in the name of religion."
He also expressed displeasure at his intention being questioned. "Some programs of the summit were criticized more," he said pointing toward distribution of the so-called holy wine. "Our attention has been drawn toward that."
He added that invitation was sent through PM Oli as many heads of state and government had to be invited for the summit.
Many standing committee members speaking before him during the ongoing meeting had taken exception to the invitations being sent on behalf of the government. "PM had to attend the program as heads of state and government were attending. Invitations also had to be sent by the government," leader Nepal clarified.
"But that has not damaged anything. Bilateral meetings were held during the summit which is a good thing," he claimed.
He conceded that his attention has been drawn toward the complaints of the people and issues raised by the media, and added that he is ready to move forward correcting weaknesses.
Another standing committee member revealed that leader Nepal submitted details of the summit during the meeting. Other standing committee members including Bhim Rawal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Yogesh Bhattarai, Agni Sapkota and Beduram Bhusal expressed anger at Nepal for not admitting his mistakes and submitting the details about the summit.
Rawal commented that participation of the top leadership of the party and government without background study of the program organized by the church was a mistake, and suggested the party and government should apologize for hurting the sentiments of people.
"The objective of Unification Church is to stoke anti-communist feelings and promote religion," Rawal pointed. "The leadership has erred and must move forward by apologizing."
Other standing committee members demanded there should be discussions within the party about what kind of programs to participate in in the coming days.
Leader Nepal did not respond to the comments made by the standing committee members.
PM Oli answered about government participation in the summit after listening to the opinions of standing committee members. He repeated Nepal's clarification and added that the government sent invitations as PM of Cambodia and state counsellor of Myanmar were to participate in the program.
"Government heads came. This has improved the country's image," PM Oli defended the summit. "We are committed to the provision of secularism inscribed in the constitution."
He claimed that the summit was not against any religion. "It is the state's responsibility to protect the traditional religions. We have been doing that," he stated. "Organizing the summit doesn't mean the Hindus are against the Christians and vice versa."
He argued that organization of the summit has established Nepal as secular state at the international arena.
He, however, conceded that the weaknesses during the summit must be reviewed.
Sources at the standing committee told Setopati that members have demanded the political report should accept that participation in the summit with religious objectives was a mistake.
The standing committee meeting continuing since December 15 will again be convened in the afternoon. The chairman duo will answer the questions raised about their joint political report.
