Govt recommends President to issue cooperative regulation ordinance

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 26: The government has decided to recommend to the President for the issuance of an ordinance to dissolve the National Cooperative Development Board and establish a regulatory commission for the overall regulation of cooperative institutions.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Singha Durbar on Tuesday evening took the decision to this effect, according to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung. 

Speaking at an event organised by Tamu (Gurung) Journalists' Association Nepal at the 'Tamu Journalism Award Distribution and the Year Book launching ceremony of gurungnews.com in the Capital on Wednesday, Minister Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson, informed about the Cabinet decision to scrap the Board and recommend for introducing an ordinance to regulate cooperative institutions to the President. 

The ordinance includes provisions regarding the chairperson, secretary, and other members of the commission. Once the President issues the ordinance and it is published in the national gazette, it will come into effect. And it also needs to be endorsed by the upcoming winter session of the Federal Parliament, said Minister Gurung.

On the occasion, Minister Gurung clarified that investigations would be conducted against everyone involved in cooperative fraud cases, regardless of their political affiliation.

Speaking at the journalism award distribution programme, he said that no one would be exempt from accountability due to their association with any political party. Minister Gurung remarked that it is incorrect to claim that only leaders from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are being targeted in the cooperative fraud case. 

"Whoever the person and whichever the party, the government doesn't bother to take action against cooperative fraudsters anymore," Minister Gurung claimed. He also said that apart from RSP, leaders from other parties have also faced action and arrest warrants have been issued to officials involved in cooperative fraud representing different political parties.

Minister Gurung stated that it would not be possible to take action against everyone mentioned in MP Surya Thapa's report all at once and simultaneously, adding, “One by one, everyone will be punished. Those involved in cooperative fraud should not think they can escape; all will be arrested according to the law.”

Minister Gurung also described the protests aimed at releasing Rabi Lamichhane, a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party currently under police custody for investigation on cooperative fraud charges, as unconstitutional. He expressed concerns over attempts to influence a case under consideration in court and urged the concerned parties to refrain from engaging in activities contrary to democratic norms and processes.

“As their leader is under investigation, it is RSP’s responsibility to cooperate with the investigative process. Until the court delivers an order or judgment, staging sit-ins or protests to influence the investigation process is absolutely inappropriate. I urge RSP to stand for legal procedures and the rule of law instead of indulging in undemocratic activities,” Minister Gurung said. 

Gurung emphasised the need for everyone to cooperate with state-led investigations and to abide by court orders. 

He further shared that the government is working toward national security, economic development, and prosperity. 

Minister Gurung mentioned plans to introduce policies on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) followed by the formulation of necessary laws. He committed to establishing an organised framework in Nepal’s communications and information technology sector during his tenure.

Highlighting that access to information is a fundamental right of every citizen, he asserted that the right to information should not be curtailed under any circumstances. He also informed that the government (Ministry of Communication and Information Technology) has prepared National Cybersecurity bill and will be taken to the next session of the Federal Parliament for endorsement.