Newly appointed Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Chief Samant Goel has returned back to India shortening his three-day visit.
Goel, who arrived on Sunday, met CPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at 8:30 Monday morning but what exactly the duo discussed has yet to be revealed.
Dahal's personal secretariat, however, has expressed ignorance about the meeting. Personal secretary Ganga Dahal said she does not know about the meeting as she was not at Dahal's residence on Monday.
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli was also informed about Nepal visit of Goel who was appointed RAW chief just a month ago. "Nepal had asked whether the government should provide security arrangements for him but India said that will not be needed," a government source confided with Setopati.
Goel had also tried to meet PM Oli but the latter did not express interest to meet. "Goel shortened his visit and returned home after PM Oli said meeting RAW chief when no Indian politicians has arrived in Nepal since the formation of new government in India would send a wrong message even though PM Oli has no problem in meeting the RAW chief," a source close to PM Oli told Setopati.
Indian Embassy Spokesperson Abhishek Dubey told Setopati that he has nothing to comment on the topic.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, meanwhile, invited chairmen of the parliamentary committees of the House of Representatives (HoR) for a reception at 4:30 Monday afternoon. "Political affairs expert of the Indian Embassy had called and sent a message. But I did not go as the agenda was not revealed," Chairman of the Women, Children and Social Welfare Committee Niru Pal said.
Chairman of the Development and Technology Committee Kalyani Khadka also confirmed the invitation and said she did not honor it as the purpose of the reception was not revealed.
Spokesperson at the Federal Parliament Secretariat Roj Nath Pandey expressed ignorance about the invitation to chairmen of parliamentary committees. "The secretariat does not have any information," he told Setopati.
