Govt recalls ambassador Paudyal from China, Pandey to replace him

KATHMANDU, March 2: The government has recalled Ambassador of Nepal to China Leela Mani Paudyal.

A meeting of the Council of Minister decided held on Monday took the decision and has asked Paudyal to return to Kathmandu within 15 days.

According to reports, the decision was made after the Paudyal’s name was dragged into the notorious Lalita Niwas land grab scam. He was appointed as the ambassador in Sept 2016.

Paudyal will be replaced by Mahendra Bahadur Pandey as Nepal’s new ambassador to China.

The former Foreign Minister’s name has been recommended for the Nepal’s diplomatic mission to the China or the second time. Pandey was nominated as the ambassador to China during Oli’s first premiership in April 2016.

But after the Nepali Congress-Maoist Center alliance toppled Oli government, his name was withdrawn.