Demanding committee to investigate DPM Lamichhane
By Our Reporter
Although the Nepali Congress allowed the government to present its policy and programme for the upcoming year in the joint session of the parliament on Tuesday, it obstructed the meetings of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly immediately after President Ramchandra Paudel ended his speech demanding a committee to investigate Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s involvement in cooperative frauds.
Because of the obstruction, the Houses failed to table the policy and document in the parliament and thank the President. Likewise, Speaker Devraj Ghimire was prevented from tabling ordinances.
The NC had agreed to allow the President to read out the policy document after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal pledged to form the committee to investigate the cooperative frauds involving Home Minister Lamichhane. Looking at the way the NC is raising the issue of cooperative frauds, and the PM’s assurances to NC leaders to form the committee, it seems sooner or later the government has to form the committee, otherwise the House businesses will get obstructed preventing the government in tabling the budget and important bills. And if the committee is formed, Lamichhane has to quit. But it is uncertain whether he will quit the government or only the post of the DPM and Home Ministry. However, the formation of the committee will surely be a big setback for Lamichhane and his party. If the committee finds his involvement in the fraud, and the case reaches the court, not only his political career will end but his party Rastriya Swatantra Party will be affected. One can easily imagine the fate of the party when its chairman is convicted of fraud. This is why Lamichhane and UML Chair KP Oli have been opposing the formation of the committee. The committee will also come as a big blow to the UML, because many of the UML leaders have also been involved in the cooperatives’ frauds.
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