Kathmandu:
Nepal's acting Prime Minister said he prays that earthquakes hit the US and other developed nations instead of Nepal.
Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, who doubles up as the acting PM, made the politically incorrect statement in parliament on Tuesday while explaining efforts to help people hit by Sunday's earthquake.
"We can't stop quakes," he said. "India couldn't do it, China couldn't do it. Then how can we? I pray to Pashupatinath that in future earthquakes hit the US and other developed nations (instead of Nepal)."
The statement comes at a time when Nepal's new Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is in New York to attend the 66th UN General Assembly and has been invited to a reception hosted by American President Barack Obama.
The US is currently training the Nepal Army to increase its disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.