E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, SEP 15 -

As the Nepali Congress (NC) prepares to hold its 12th General Convention (GC) in the Capital from Sept. 17-21, some of its foreign invitees have conveyed their inability to attend the jamboree. Some of the senior party leaders invited by Acting President Sushil Koirala from India and China have instead offered to send their representatives.

"Top political leaders from India, China, Denmark, Sweden and the UK expressed their inability to attend the event," said Rajendra Parajuli, coordinator of the GC International Bureau. "Nevertheless, they are sending representatives."

NC officials confirm that two representatives from the Congress I and one from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are arriving for the convention. China and Sri Lanka are also sending government representatives. However, there has been no confirmation on the names of foreign delegates.

Around a dozen top leaders of various political parties of different countries were invited in the conference. While some of them have conveyed their inability, others haven't confirmed. "As of today, we are unsure about the number of foreign delegates participating in our convention," said Parajuli.

Sonia Gandhi from the Congress I, Hu Jintao from Chinese Communist Party, Ali Jardari from Peoples Party of Pakistan, Mahinda Rajapaksa, president, Sri Lanka and Harriet Ruth Harman from British Labour Party were invited by Koirala as special guests.

NC had also invited Nitin Gadkari, chairperson of BJP, Sharad Pawar, chair of the Indian National Congress, AB Bardhan, general secretary of the Indian Communist Party, Lalu Yadav, chairman of the Janata Dal, Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Indian Communist Party (Marxist) and Mayawati Kumari, chairperson of the Bahujan Socialist Party.

Similarly, George Papandrew and Louis Ayela, chairman and general secretary of the Socialist International (SI), the umbrella organisation of the socialist parties worldwide were also invited by the NC. In addition, leaders from more than 100 socialist parties affiliated to the SI were invited, according to NC officials.

GC Foreign Committee Coordinator Chakra Prasad Bastola attributes this to managerial “shortcomings.” “Besides, security consideration could be a reason.”

However, party chief Koirala has vowed to keep on trying to ensure that his invitees turn up.

 

Posted on: 2010-09-15 09:08

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