The main opposition CPN-UML on Saturday dismissed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s claim that the government had declared a public holiday on the day when Indian President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Kathmandu in consensus with all the parties.

UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal said the second largest party was not consulted on the matter even though PM Dahal had told the media that the 

government took the decision after holding an all-party meeting. After widespread criticism of the decision, the PM’s secretariat had reasoned that the holiday was proposed by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

Rawal said it was not too difficult to manage traffic in Kathmandu Valley during Mukherjee’s visit. “We must welcome our high-profile guests warmly but declaring a national holiday on the occasion is inappropriate,” he said.

The government had flouted diplomatic norms by declaring a public holiday before fixing the date for the Chinese president’s visit, the former home minister said.

Questioning what the state will do when the presidents of other countries visit Nepal, he said the government had demonstrated its “inferiority complex”.