Pokharel rejects Pun’s claims, stresses need for confidentiality

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has issued a clarification regarding the phone call he made to CPN (Maoist Center) Deputy General Secretary Barshaman Pun.

Earlier, Pun told reporters that Pokharel had called him seeking support for the six ordinances issued by the government.

Pokharel has acknowledged making the call to Pun. He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with Pun for breaching confidentiality.

“Discussions between leaders are conducted with mutual respect. However, Barshamanji has publicized the conversation as if it were a plea from the UML General Secretary. Now, it seems that even informal conversations with him must be approached with caution,” Pokharel wrote in a social media post on Sunday morning. “Party leaders sometimes engage in informal discussions with relevant individuals and parties on certain issues as deemed necessary. Informal conversations are not meant for public consumption. It is inappropriate to make such discussions public.”

Pokharel warned that Pun’s actions could harm himself. He clarified that the spirit of his conversation with Pun was entirely different.

“The conversation that he had with me and the news he communicated is completely different. However, I do not consider it appropriate to discuss that matter further at this time,” Pokharel wrote. “If there was a need to seek support or make a plea as Barshamanji has publicized, it would have been done directly through Maoist Center Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, not through him. Necessary discussions on the matter have been and will continue to take place as required.”