Kathmandu: At a time when parties in the ruling alliance are divided over the fate of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)’s Nepal Compact, Chairman of CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the compact can’t be endorsed without amendments.
Making a virtual address to a meeting of the party’s Karnali Province Committee on Thursday, Prachanda said the much-debated agreement on US assistance will not be endorsed in the status quo.
“We are open for US assistance. However, some provisions in the MCC Compact should be amended. Parliamentary ratification of the compact is not possible in the status quo,” said a leader quoting Prachanda.
Prachanda added that the ruling alliance will remain intact, refuting media reports that disputes in the ruling alliance over endorsement of MCC will lead to the breaking of the alliance.
The compact which offers $500 million in grant to Nepal for the construction of transmission lines and road maintenance projects is awaiting parliamentary ratification.
Maoist Center has been consistently opposing the parliamentary ratification of the Compact. Maoist Center has been criticized for disowning the Compact that was signed in 2017 when it was in the coalition government with Nepali Congress.
While responding to the letter by the Ministry of Finance back in September 2021 the MCC has clarified that the Compact cannot be amended.
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