Standing Committee member of the Unified CPN (Maoist), Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta’, has said that it holds no meaning to give political color to his recent China visit.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Janasanchar Abhiyan on Monday, Pun said the visit took place after completing all legal procedures and it was irrelevant to make the visit a matter of issue for clarification.

“The team apprised party’s chairman, general secretary, chain of command within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and UNMIN’s unit concerned about the visit before leaving for Shanghai “, he said.

Referring to the provision in the agreement on the management of Maoist arms and the army, signed between the government and the UCPN (Maoist), that says that personnels of the PLA and the Nepal Army could stay on leave as long as they did not exceed 12 per cent of their total number, Pun said an individual taking leave was free to go anywhere.

“Our visit was not secret as the media was already informed about it”, Pun claimed. “I had gone for a trip to Darjeeling, Sikkim and Siluguri with my family and some PLA commanders during the Dashain last year too, but it had not been an issue then. Why this year’s China visit has been dragged into controversy?”

The visit was personal and the team did not hold any political talks with any party there, he added.