MCC: Will the alliance break or parliament rectify it?

Activists of different political parties are, of late, demonstrating in Kathmandu and other cities against the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant that the US government has agreed to provide Nepal for the expansion of the transmission lines and to build roads.

The demonstrators even staged a protest in front of the US Embassy in Kathmandu. Police arrested a few of the demonstrators. In Biratnagar and other cities, rallies have been organised against the MCC.

Interestingly, the student organisations of the ruling parties and even a few NC leaders have opposed the MCC. The involvement of the leaders and cadres of the ruling parties in the anti-MCC demonstrations has increased the risk of dividing the ruling alliance. The Maoist Centre, one of the key parties in the ruling alliance is strongly opposing the MCC. Its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal the other day said that the MCC could not be endorsed as it is now.

It is noteworthy to mention here that MCC was one of the causes for the spilt in the then Nepal Communist Party as the Maoists as well as a few UML leaders like Bhim Rawal strongly opposed the MCC which the then Prime Minister Oli wanted to endorse from the parliament. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the decision on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) would be taken in coordination with the major political parties of the Federal Parliament. Addressing a meeting of the parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress (NC) on Tuesday, PM Deuba said that the government would hold consultations with other political parties before deciding on MCC. Deuba also clarified that the NC had signed MCC only after a detailed study." Gyanendra Bahadur Karki had signed the MCC in the capacity of Finance Minister in 2017 when Deuba himself was leading a coalition government. Stating that those against the nation's development had spread rumours about MCC, PM Deuba said, "In reality, as this aid is for the infrastructural development of the nation, the country must endorse it."

Deuba had also directed only those lawmakers having intensive knowledge to make comments on MCC.