Acharya and Shah approved as Nepali envoys to UN and Brazil

Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) has approved the names of Gyan Chandra Acharya and Pradhyumna Bikram Shah for the post of permanent envoy to the United Nations and ambassador to Brazil, Sunday.

A meeting of the committee Sunday morning unanimously approved Acharya and Shah for the respective posts.

Both Acharya and Shah are civil servants in the foreign affairs service. Acharya is the secretary at the ministry, while Pradhyumna Bikram Shah is a joint-secretary looking after the China desk at the ministry.

Foreign ministry staff had expressed dissatisfaction over the trend of appointing people from outside foreign affairs service as the ambassadors.

Although, there is a provision of appointing at least 50 per cent of the ambassadors from foreign affairs service, such system had not been followed in the previous appointments after the formation of the present government.

The PHSC meeting to conduct Acharya and Shah’s hearing called for Thursday had been put off after lawmakers of four parties, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic), Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Dalit Janajati Party and Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch boycotted the meeting.

They had boycotted the meeting saying the process of appointing ambassadors was not inclusive and demanding for a reservation for people from marginalized community.