Dahal to leave for US for his spouse’s treatment today

KATHMANDU, March 17: Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal will head for United States today evening for the treatment of his wife Sita Dahal.

Dahal and his ailing wife, along with his daughter Ganga and son-in-law Jeevan Acharya will fly for the US at 5 pm today, said Dahal’s private secretariat.

Sita, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and high blood pressure for long, will be treated at John Hawkins Hospital in US, according to a press release issued by Chairperson Dahal’s Secretariat.

Dahal was supposed to go to the US earlier, but his controversial statement on Venezuela political crisis had made him cancel the trip.

Dahal on January 25, following the US move to recognize Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, issuing a press statement had denounced US intervention of Venezuela “an unacceptable intrusion in internal affairs and an attempt of imperialist coup.” The US allies and Europe had welcomed the move.

Dahal’s statement shook the US-Nepal diplomatic ties, prompting the annoyed US to seek clarification on if NCP Chair’s statement was the official position of the government.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to US concerns, had officially stated that “the internal political problems of Venezuela need to be resolved within its constitutional parameters in a democratic manner, free from external interference.”