House panel's fiat to recall envoy to India

KATHMANDU: The Committee for International Relations and Human Rights of the Parliament today directed the government to recall its ambassador to India Rukma Shumsher Rana for his involvement in Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd.

The committee unanimously decided to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall envoy Rana remarking he could no longer serve the nation as an ambassador. Rana holds the position of Managing Director in Dabur Nepal, a subsidiary of Dabur India Ltd.

Since Rana is the MD of a company under investigation of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, it is inappropriate for him to remain the ambassador, read the decision taken by Committee Chairman Padam Lal Biswokarma. “The committee directed MoFA to recall Rana immediately,” he added.

A senior official at MoFA interpreted the committee decision as a direction for “temporary pullout” from ambassadorial portfolio.

CIAA has been investigating Dabur Nepal for putting false manufacturing date on its product, Real juice. The parliamentary body had called the meeting in a wake of Dabur Nepal controversy. Officials from MoFA, including Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai, were present at the meeting.

All nine parliamentarians, including CP Gajurel of UCPN-Maoist, Lucky Sherpa of CPN-UML and Kamala Thapa of Nepali Congress, who aired their views at the meeting, unanimously agreed to recall Rana for further investigation.

Foreign Secretary Bhattarai had informed the committee that Rana was an MD at Dabur Nepal, owning 2.5 per cent share. However, Rana claimed that his was an honorary title so there was “no conflict of interest” between his ambassadorship and MD of Dabur Nepal, as he was not involved in day-to-day functioning of the company.

The government had appointed Rana as its ambassador to India from NC quota in August 2009.

Though the committee has directed MoFA to recall Rana, the cabinet takes the decision to recall any ambassador. Foreign Secretary Bhattarai told THT that MoFA would take necessary steps regarding the direction of the parliamentary committee.

The committee also directed the government to probe Nepal’s ambassador to Saudi Arab Hamid Ansari, who has been accused of transferring the compensation amount of three Nepali citizens to his personal bank account. It has directed to sack Ansari from his post if found guilty. MoFA has already sought a clarification from ambassador Ansari, but sources informed that he is yet to submit his explanation.

Meanwhile, the committee summoned Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakum Chemjong seeking their take on possible repercussion on the peace process, Nepal’s relations with diplomatic communities, including United Nations, if parties fail to form a monitoring mechanism to replace UNMIN before its departure on January 15.

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=House+panel%27s+fiat+to+recall+envoy+to+India&NewsID=272592