Feb 20, Kathmandu- Leaders of parties within the ruling coalition have played a double role in tabling the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

There were protests not only outside the parliament but also inside the parliament saying that the MCC table should not be held. Top leaders of the ruling coalition party CPN-Maoist Center and CPN-Unified Socialists are also speaking for and against the MCC.

Top Internal leaders agreed to set the table. However, he opposed the decision to hold a table in the House of Representatives Committee and the main meeting. Similarly, these same parties also took their fraternal organizations to the streets.

UCPN (Maoist) Central Committee Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal agreed to hold the MCC table at a meeting of the coalition held in Baluwatar this morning.

Similarly, Jhala Nath Khanal, the second-ranked leader of the CPN (Maoist), objected to Madhav Nepal's decision to form an MCC at a meeting of top leaders held this morning. He also argued that the MCC dispute had divided the country at this time.

Not only that, but he also accused the MCC of trying to advance by bowing to foreign powers. He remarked that having an MCC table was a violation of the constitution. Though there was a consensus within the CPN (Maoist) that the amendment should not be passed without approval, there was a dispute over the tabling of the agreement.

Leader Khanal has been opposed to MCC approval for a long time. Under his leadership, the then Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) formed a task force to study the agreement with the MCC. The task force had issued a report which could not be passed without modification. MCC was also a major cause of controversy within the CPN (Maoist).

Similarly, Dev Gurung, chief whip of the UCPN (M), and other leaders who participated in the working committee had expressed their disagreement in writing. Despite their dissatisfaction, the MCC finally came to the table in today's Parliament sitting.

Leaders, including Gurung, have argued that there should be a national consensus on the MCC, that some points should be amended and modified, and that parliament should function smoothly before being tabled.

Meanwhile, after the MCC was tabled in the parliament, Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa said that if the MCC proposal was treasonous, the lawmakers should raise slogans in the name of their party leadership. He said that the discussion will start on Falgun 12 as everyone has participated in today's meeting.

Similarly, another leader Dilendra Badu said that there was a debate on MCC in the streets and stressed the need to reach a conclusion from the discussion. He said that the people should convey the message of what the parliament says to the nation and also to the friendly nations.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML, which has been taking a stand to maintain the blockade of the parliament until its demands are met, has given a clear answer after the MCC got tabled. UML has clarified that the party will not participate in any process until its demands are met. However, UML MP Bhim Rawal, who did not participate in the process, spoke against the government's decision to participate in the discussion and take it to the parliament for approval.

The grant agreement between the US aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Nepal has been tabled in the House of Representatives 32 months after it was registered in the Millennium Challenge Compact Parliament.

On behalf of Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, Information Technology and Communications Minister Gyanendra Karki have set the table for ratification of the agreement. After that, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota has adjourned the meeting till Falgun 12.

The then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada had registered the agreement with the Parliament Secretariat on Asar 30, 2076 BS asking to take it to the process of ratification. After that, the MCC approval process could not move forward due to tensions within the then ruling party, the CPN (Maoist). Instead, the distance between the leaders of the CPN (Maoist) widened, the CPN (Maoist) split, and the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had registered for MCC approval in Parliament, also came out of power.

With the MCC being tabled in Parliament today, the differences between the parties over the MCC have now formally entered Parliament. For what the parliament decides, we will have to wait till Falgun 12.