The government is likely to withdraw names of two individuals it had earlier picked for ambassadorial positions in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The government decision to recommend Asha Lama and Sharmila Dhakal as ambassadors for the UAE and Oman respectively has run into controversy. Sources said a Cabinet meeting, most likely on Tuesday, could withdraw the nominations of Lama and Dhakal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already sent a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking to withdraw nominations of the two persons in question, added the sources. MoFA sent the proposal to this effect on Sunday following widespread criticism from various quarters over the government decision to nominate the individuals “with controversial background”.

Before leaving for Geneva on Sunday, Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat had instructed Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi to send a fresh proposal on ambassadorial nominations after soliciting views from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. 

Lama was nominated under Nepali Congress quota while Dhakal was picked under the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Loktantrik quota. Meanwhile, it is learnt that NC President Deuba is under pressure to withdraw the nomination of Ramesh Koirala. Koirala has been recommended as the ambassador for Qatar.

All three—Lama, Dhakal and Koirala—are in foreign employment business and have been sending Nepali migrant workers to Gulf countries. They also face charges of duping Nepali migrant workers.

After controversy surfaced, Foreign Minister Mahat had called on Deuba and urged him to withdraw the nomination of Lama. Similarly, Mahat had also called on Gachhadar, apprising him of the possibility of the host country not giving an approval to Dhakal. 

A team of foreign employment agencies had also urged Deuba to withdraw the name of Lama. Both Lama and Dhakal had recently organised separate press conferences and dismissed criticisms heaped on them, saying that they are eligible to hold the ambassadorial positions and “can handle diplomatic assignments”.

Published on: 28 February 2017 | The Kathmandu Post