BRI Protesters demonstrate outside Pokhara International Airport denouncing China BRI
Denouncing China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a tool to intervene in the Himalayan nation, a group of protesters recently demonstrated outside the Pokhara International Airport.
On Monday, the protest was organised by the Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan or National Unity Movement.
Over 200 protesters participated in the demonstration.
The protest comes during the visit by a parliamentary committee to inspect and investigate claims of embezzlement at the time of construction of the airport which only operates domestic flights, reported ANI.
Rajendra Prasad Lingden, one of the members of the parliamentary committee, also met the demonstrators at the spot where they were protesting.
The protestors also organized a sit-in in front of the airport raising slogans demanding “Full operation of Pokhara International Airport”, “Investigate the corruption during the construction of Pokhara International Airport”, and “Convert the Chinese loan to grant” amongst others, the Indian news agency reported.
Binay Yadav, the chairman of the National Unity Movement, targeted China and said it was aiming to take control over the Pokhara International Airport.
“China wants to capture the Pokhara International Airport as it did with the Hambantota port of Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port as this place has geological significance,” Yadav told ANI.
He added, “Nepal cannot pay back the pricy loans and interest. Embezzlement also needs to be investigated which were made during its construction.”
The construction of the Pokhara Airport was primarily funded by the Chinese companies.
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