RSP chief whip apologise for leaked audio tape

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 11: Lawmakers of the House of Representatives on Monday expressed their concerns over several contemporary issues during the zero and special hours of the House meeting.

CPN-UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant said that the Indian security personnel’s entry to Nepal in search of Amritpal Singh had created distrust in Nepal's security system.

Participating in the House session, lawmaker Pant said that it was objectionable that the Indian security personnel entered Nepal through the Jamunah border in Banke district stating that the security agencies of Nepal could not locate Singh, who was rumoured to be hiding in Nepal. 

“No Nepali law allows the security personnel of any foreign country to enter Nepal and conduct searches like this,” he said. Pant also drew the attention of the government to control the border and prevent external interference, adding that that Nepal-India open border was a breeding ground of crimes.

Similarly, CPN Maoist Centre MP Chhiring Lhamu Lama Tamang accused the previous government of causing economic crisis in the country by talking about ships, trains and gas to each house through pipes. She said that the country was now in economic crisis because the previous government invested in the unproductive sectors. Lama claimed that the previous government did not invest in the necessary areas of comparative advantage and that should be seriously reviewed. 

Leakage of the audio record of MP Dr. Dhaka Kumar Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party was also discussed in the session on Monday. Nepali Congress MP Dhanraj Gurung said that it was embarrassing to hear that someone was talking with a businessman to become a minister. He demanded a parliamentary investigation committee to investigate into the audio. 

In that audio, Shrestha is heard seeking help from medical businessman Durga Prasai saying that people close to party president Ravi Lamichhane had demanded Rs. 20 million. 

Gurung demanded formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee, mentioning that the parliament should not be silent about the talks, corruption, commissions involving a member of the House of Representatives.

Afterwards, Santosh Pariyar, the chief whip of Rastriya Swatantra Party, apologised for the audio tape.

 He informed that an investigation had been started on Shrestha. “We seek a sincere apology for this incident, 

facts will be investigated regarding the audio case. 

However, such incidents had also happened in the past, and the incidents should also be investigated,” he added.

Meanwhile, Speaker Devraj Ghimire ruled the government to answer the questions raised in the Parliament. “I direct the government to answer the questions raised in the House,” he said. 

According to the legal provision, concerned ministers must furnish answers to the House on the matters raised in the House within seven days. 

However, the ministers have hardly answered the questions raised in  the House.