Govt decides to recall ambassador Upadhyay

Kathmandu / May 06: The government has decided to recall Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, on the charge of non-cooperation and working against Nepal’s interests.

Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ambassador Upadhyaya had “confronted” with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli regarding the cancellation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s scheduled visit to India.

According to another source at MoFA, Upadhyaya, who was a Nepali Congress leader prior to his appointment as ambassador, is accused of being involved in attempts to topple the incumbent government.

He is also accused of leaving his work stations without prior notice to the foreign ministry. The ambassador had also accompanied Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae during the latter’s visit to various Tarai districts without informing the ministry.

Upadhyay is former minister and lawmaker from the Nepali Congress. “I did my best to promote and protect our national interests,” The Himalayan Times daily quoted Upadhaya as saying. “I advised what could be the best interest of the country,” he added.

Appointed by Sushil Koirala-led government, the former minister Upadhyaya had taken the diplomatic assignment in New Delhi in April 2015.