Ambassador Upadhyaya was working against national interest: DPM Rawal

Kathmandu, May 07.  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr. Bhim Rawal has said that the government had decided to recall Nepal’s Ambassador to India Mr. Deep Kumar Upadhyaya for he was found working against the country’s national interests.

Speaking at an interaction program organised by the Reporter’s Club Nepal on Saturday, DPM Thapa said,”A person like an ambassador should be able to implement the government’s policy directives and maintain diplomatic relations while working abroad.”

Upadhyaya was found leaving workplace without informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking part in a programme with ambassador of an other country at sensitive areas like Tarai during the agitation and being involved in attempts to change the government, he said while program was presided by the Reporters’ Club Nepal’s President Rishi Dhamala.

Rawal opined that Upadhyaya was recalled to strengthen and expand existing relationship with India not to destroy the bilateral relations.

Stating that President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s scheduled visit to India was cancelled due to internal reasons rather than diplomatic ones, he said, “The pre-budget discussion is underway at the Parliament and the President has to present policy and programme of the government.”

The President’s presence in the nation was deemed necessary in critical times while speculations about government change were rife, he added. He made it clear that the government’s decision to recall Upadhyaya was not related to the cancellation of the President’s India visit.