KATHMANDU: The Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat has said its attention has been drawn to information disseminated through some ‘online’ and social media regarding the statement attributed to Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli in a meeting on August 27 with convention representatives representing the Kathmandu district ahead of the party’s upcoming second statute convention.

Stating that the said programme was just an informal meeting and not a training session, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat has expressed its objection to what it called misleading and fabricated topics disseminated by some online and social media that are inspired by self-interest.

It also clarified that Chairman Oli had not said to the party’s representatives from Kathmandu that ‘no one other than Bidya Bhandari has the capacity to challenge me in UML; if Bidya backs off, everything will be sorted out,’ as has been reported by the online and social media.

According to the Secretariat, in the meeting Chairman Oli presented his views on the historical and struggle-filled background of the leftist movement in Nepal, the damage caused to the movement when personal interests overshadowed the party’s interests, the policies currently embraced by the party, the recent decisions of the party’s central committee, and the work that the current government has been doing for development and good governance.

“No other leaders have respect for former President Bhandari as much as I have and I am surprised how she has reached to a condition of opposing the party and its leadership.

Former President Bhandari, has, instead of adopting the formal channel of taking membership of the party, is discussing with the media and other party leaders about becoming active in politics.

Such activities do not contribute to the party’s goals and internal unity, and the general members of the party feel that one should not come in a way that vitiates the unity of the party.

The conclusion is that granting her membership by the central committee would harm her and the movement’s dignity. She cannot win the party Chair position even if she joins the party and contests for position.

The matter of taking leadership is not like becoming the apple of someone’s eye,” the Prime Minister’s Secretariat quoted Chair Oli as saying in the meeting, thereby presenting the reality.

The Prime Minister’s private secretariat has also requested everyone involved not to disseminate misleading news without understanding the reality.