KATHMANDU: The government today recalled Nepal’s Ambassador to India Rukma Shumsher Rana saying he was ‘unwilling to cooperate’ with the current coalition government.
Two days ago the government had asked Rana to tender his resignation.
Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai has sent a letter to Rana asking him to return at the earliest, according to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With the ‘return at the earliest’ note sent to Rana, major government partners in the UML-Maoist coalition government have begun exercise to get a candidate of their choice to replace him.
Ambassador to New Delhi is considered the most crucial diplomatic posting.
Rana was appointed ambassador to India by the then Nepali Congress-UML coalition government in October 2009.
Ambassador Rana told this daily over phone that he would respond to the government in a day or two. “I have not read the letter yet. I will decide after going through the letter whether it has asked me to resign or return,” he said. Though the government decision to call back Rana came today, the political circle was abuzz with talk that Rana would be asked to come back any time soon.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav today publicly accused Rana of ‘violating government directives’. “He did not come to Kathmandu during Indian Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna’s Nepal visit in January,” said Yadav. “MoFA had asked him to resign to make way for his graceful exit; but he argued that he needed to hear it from the Nepali Congress.”
Yadav, however, said no decision had been taken as to who will succeed Rana, and added that both UML and the Maoists were vying to name their candidate. “We will take a decision to this effect after holding discussions with coalition partners,” said Yadav.
Sources said Yadav, who represents Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal in the government, wants to send Foreign Secretary Bhattarai to New Delhi as the new envoy.
Two days ago the government had asked Rana to tender his resignation.
Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai has sent a letter to Rana asking him to return at the earliest, according to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With the ‘return at the earliest’ note sent to Rana, major government partners in the UML-Maoist coalition government have begun exercise to get a candidate of their choice to replace him.
Ambassador to New Delhi is considered the most crucial diplomatic posting.
Rana was appointed ambassador to India by the then Nepali Congress-UML coalition government in October 2009.
Ambassador Rana told this daily over phone that he would respond to the government in a day or two. “I have not read the letter yet. I will decide after going through the letter whether it has asked me to resign or return,” he said. Though the government decision to call back Rana came today, the political circle was abuzz with talk that Rana would be asked to come back any time soon.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav today publicly accused Rana of ‘violating government directives’. “He did not come to Kathmandu during Indian Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna’s Nepal visit in January,” said Yadav. “MoFA had asked him to resign to make way for his graceful exit; but he argued that he needed to hear it from the Nepali Congress.”
Yadav, however, said no decision had been taken as to who will succeed Rana, and added that both UML and the Maoists were vying to name their candidate. “We will take a decision to this effect after holding discussions with coalition partners,” said Yadav.
Sources said Yadav, who represents Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal in the government, wants to send Foreign Secretary Bhattarai to New Delhi as the new envoy.
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