The task force formed by ruling CPN to study about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has asked for an extension.
The party had formed the tak force led by senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal and including Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and standing committee member Bhim Rawal as members on February 2 to study MCC to find out whether it is part of the American military strategy or not. The task force was given 10 days for study.
Coordinator Khanal told Setopati that it has asked for an extension of 10 days. A source close to one CPN chairman has also confirmed that the task force has written to the two chairmen asking for a 10-day extension. It has stated that the necessary documents were not available in time.
"We are seeking government documents. Foreign Minister has brought some documents in his personal capacity. But we need many documents for study," a source confided. "We have to coordinate at many places to acquire documents related to the MCC. It has taken time to acquire all the files as it is a party body."
The source added that the task force is preparing to submit recommendation incorporating all the positive and negative aspects.
Ruling CPN had hotly debated MCC during the recent standing committee meeting with the erstwhile Maoists and those from Madhav Kumar Nepal faction opposing it saying it should only be passed if it becomes clear that it is not part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy floated by America.
The US embassy in Kathmandu later issued a 10-point statement clarifying that the MCC is not part of military affairs.
The press statement, which it said was in response to a large number of queries from Nepali citizens, politicians, and members of the media about the MCC, claimed that every Nepali government since 2012 has been in favor of the MCC and that there is no military component to the compact.
The issue was raised even during the central committee meeting that concluded on February 2 and the party formed a task force to address the issue.
