Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the public not to believe what it called misleading and baseless claims regarding Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit to Spain.
The ministry issued the statement after Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Sobita Gautam said in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday that some members of the PM’s entourage have not returned. “There are reports that some individuals who went to attend the program in Spain, where the Honourable Prime Minister was present, have not returned. We are not accusing any specific individual, but this is a serious matter,” MP Gautam had said.
The ministry claimed in the statement that the delegation led by Prime Minister Oli attended the conference from June 30 to July 4, and all members of the delegation have since returned to Nepal. “It is well understood that when Nepal’s representation is required at bilateral, regional and multilateral forums, decisions are taken by the Cabinet based on international practices, the government’s responsibility and role, national interest and principles of financial prudence,” the statement read. “Accordingly, the delegation led by Prime Minister Oli attended the conference held from June 30 to July 4, and all its members have now returned to Nepal.”
The Ministry has urged the public to remain cautious of misinformation and to refrain from believing or spreading unverified claims.
On Wednesday, however, lawmaker Gautam clarified that she had not said individuals who went with the Prime Minister specifically had stayed back. She claimed that others who attended the conference had not returned and had used forged documents to travel.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and Whip Sunita Baral challenged Gautam to make public the names of those who had stayed back.
