Nepal levels 3 charges against its India envoy

The Nepal government has levelled three charges against the country’s ambassador to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, to justify its decision to recall him, with officials on Saturday saying he was working “against national interest”.

“Envoys should follow government’s directives and maintain diplomatic decorum,” Nepal’s minister for defence Bhim Rawal told reporters here.

In a late night development, Nepal on Friday recalled Mr Upadhyaya over charges of non-cooperation and indulging in anti-government activities.

Mr Upadhyaya, a leader of Opposition Nepali Congress who was appointed as Nepal’s envoy to India in April 2015, is being seen as the first casualty of the cancellation of Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s planned visit to India.

The diplomat has been also charged with siding with the Nepali Congress Opposition in supporting a threat by the Maoist party to topple Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government, according to reports.

He has been accused of being involved in toppling the government, breaching his jurisdiction without informing the government and visiting some western Nepal districts accompanying India’s ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, Mr Rawal said. He said the cancellation of the President’s trip to India has no connection with Mr Upadhyaya’s recall.