No decision has been made on SPP: Communications Minister

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has made it clear that there has not been any decision on behalf of the government regarding the State Partnership Program (SPP) of the USA.

He said this while replying, on the behalf of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, to the queries raised by MPs during deliberations on the Appropriation Bill, 2022, in the meeting of the House of Representatives today. He was replying to the appropriation heads related to the Ministry of Defence, the National Planning Commission Secretariat, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President.

Minister Karki said the Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has also on behalf of the Prime Minister made matters regarding SPP clear in the House before this, adding that no decision has been made till date regarding SPP and neither any made henceforth.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also stated that SPP and the US grant assistance, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) were different topics altogether.

Replying a question by lawmakers regarding US Deputy Secretary of State Uzra Zeya during her visit to Nepal some time back also visiting a Tibetan refugee camp, he said the Government of Nepal is alert and sensitive on matters likely to harm the relations with any neighbour and friendly country.

He said that the government was oriented towards achieving economic prosperity by protecting the sovereignty, autonomy and territorial integrity of the nation, expecting the cooperation by all in this endeavour.

On the demand of the lawmakers that the Prime Minister himself should be present in the House to give replies to their queries, Minister Karki made it clear that he was replying on behalf of the Prime Minister in accordance with the constitution and the prevailing parliamentary laws and norms as the prime minister was busy in other official duties.

He expressed that the lawmakers should be well aware about the Prime Minister's different responsibilities.

"The aim of the five-party coalition government is to steer ahead the country towards prosperity and take it on the path of economic prosperity through development and good governance," he reiterated.