NC demands formation of parliamentary committee to investigate against Lamichhane
Nepali Congress has demanded formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane in the cooperative fraud.
Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada accused the government of being scared of forming a parliamentary committee.
He objected that the government, which could not form a parliamentary committee, had mentioned in its Common Minimum Program of forming various commissions.
“We heard the Common Minimum Program of the government. It has been mentioned that various commissions will be formed. What kind of commission will the government form when it expresses its reluctance to form a parliamentary committee of cooperative fraud,” he questioned.
He claimed that the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government has become unsuccessful in every sector.
DAOs directed to set up facilitation desks to hear problems of usury victims
The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desks to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.
Home Ministry's spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the directive was issued to establish facilitation desks in line with the four-point agreement signed on March 11 between the Ministry and the usury victims struggle committee.
The district administration offices have been directed to set up a facilitation desk to deal with the matter by assigning responsibility to the officer-level employees to immediately hear the complaints, petitions and grievances related to usury and make public the details of the employees deployed at the desk (name, post, email, contact number and other means of contact) on the website of the office.
Similarly, section officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Chiranjivi GM has been appointed the contact person of the Ministry to coordinate with the DAOs and other agencies to address the complaints of the usury victims.
For complaints related to usury (improper transactions), one can contact mobile number: 9851360603 (viber, WhatsApp message), email: [email protected] and toll-free number 1112.
PM Dahal faces Parliament, vows to establish good governance
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has vowed not to compromise with anyone to establish and uphold good governance. Responding to the concerns raised by lawmakers in Tuesday’s House of Representatives (HoR) meeting, Dahal said anyone found involved in any wrongdoing will not be spared. “Nothing will prevent the government from taking action against the individuals found guilty of wrongdoing,” he said.
The prime minister said that his government has resolved to promote good governance by investigating large corruption scams, gold smuggling incidents and public land grabbing cases, among other crimes. “The government will scale up its moves against such illicit activities,” he added.
On the queries raised by the opposition lawmakers regarding the appointment of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane as the deputy prime minister and home minister despite allegations of misappropriation of cooperative funds, the prime minister said that the investigation thus far suggests “no link between Lamichhane and the cooperative’s board of directors, account committee, or loan committee. “There is no proof of him being an employee of the cooperative or holding any institutional roles. Additionally, there are no ongoing legal proceedings against him,” Dahal said.
He added that the cooperative loan issued in Lamichhane’s name has been repaid, and the police too have briefed the government that there is no need for further investigation in the case. The major opposition, Nepali Congress, has been critical of Lamichhane’s ministerial appointment, citing that he is under investigation for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of cooperative funds.
NC wants House panel to look into Lamichhane’s case
The Nepali Congress is not satisfied with Prime Minister Dahal’s clarification regarding Home Minister Lamichhane’s alleged role in a fund misappropriation case and have demanded for a special House committee to look into the matter. Earlier, the prime minister had told the House that appointing Lamichhane as the deputy prime minister and home minister would not constitute a conflict of interest as the investigation has already exonerated Lamichhane.
Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak contended in Tuesday’s parliament meeting that there is enough evidence to suggest that Home Minister Lamichhane was directly involved in misappropriation of funds from Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Cooperatives.
“The prime minister said that there is no evidence, but we say there is. Let us create an environment for a fair investigation into this case. We call for the formation of an investigation committee in the parliament itself to look into this case,” Lekhak demanded before the House. He also demanded that Home Minister Lamichhane step down on moral grounds and cooperate in the investigation.
Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that some forces are actively trying to defame Home Minister Lamichhane by demanding his resignation. Speaking at a press meet in Dhangadhi on Tuesday, Oli claimed that Lamichhane has no connection with the cooperatives accused of misappropriating funds. “If we go after every complaint against ministers or parliamentarians, there might arise a situation when all positions of minister and parliamentarians would be vacant,” he said.
Some forces active in defaming DPM Lamichhane: UML Chair Oli
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that some forces were active in defaming Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane by demanding his resignation.
In a press meet organized by Press Chautari Kailali chapter in Dhangadhi, today, former Prime Minister Oli claimed that Lamichhane, who has no connection with the cooperatives, was being forcibly implicated to discredit him.
He insisted that Lamichhane had no connection with the cooperatives and that it would have no influence on the investigation. He also stated that victims of the cooperatives will get justice soon.
"If there is a complaint against any minister or parliamentarian, then there might arise a situation when all positions of minister and parliamentarians would be vacant," Oli said.
In another context, former PM Oli commented that one should not react irresponsibly regarding the merger of communist forces connecting that with the power sharing in government.
Chairman Oli, who arrived in Dhangadhi after inaugurating the 9th district convention of UML Dadeldhura committee on Monday, has returned to Kathmandu today.
