KATHMANDU: Former Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani has suggested Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle to focus on improving the performance of his own ministry before becoming active in foreign affairs.

Questioning Finance Minister Dr Wagle’s latest foreign policy remarks, Lohani through his social media Facebook has suggested to take effective initiatives to resolve the problem of Nepal’s export goods being stuck at the border for weeks or months and to reduce non-customs barriers.

Similarly, Lohani has raised the question of whether the Balen-led government is trying to propose a similar policy to India? This question has been raised. Also, has Finance Minister Dr. Wagle come up with such a strategy with the aim of pleasing the Indian foreign policy establishment? He has also expressed his curiosity about this.

According to Lohani, Dr. Wagle, who has obtained an educational qualification from Western University, has a strange attraction towards the ‘Monroe Theory’ of the South Asian version. He said that even the officials of the Indian government have not yet advocated in favor of such a theory.

Lohani said he believed Wagle was aware of the geopolitical background of the Monroe Doctrine, which was put forward by the then US President James Monroe in 1823.

According to him, this principle was put forward by the United States with the aim of preventing the interference of European powers in the Western Hemisphere. Later, this principle was also used by the United States as a basis for expanding its influence and intervention in Latin American countries.

“Many people are confused about on whose behalf Wagle is making these statements,” Lohani said. He urged Finance Minister Wagle to make improvement in the performance of the ministry the first policy priority rather than showing unnecessary activism in foreign affairs.