NC leader Koirala says he should pave the way for an independent probe into the visit visa scam case
KATHMANDU, MAY 24
In the wake of an escalating social media debate regarding the visit visa scam in collusion with the home minister Ramesh Lekhak has stated that if his involvement in the case is proven, he will resign and retire from politics.
In a dramatic development in the visit visa scam, Nepali Congress leader and legislator Shekhar Koirala had advised Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign on moral grounds following serious charges levelled against him.
Koirala, speaking to media persons in Biratnagar on Saturday, said that since Lekhak's name has flashed in a corruption scandal involving the Department of Immigration, he should pave the way for an independent probe into the case.
Koirala further stated that this would reflect Lekhak's high moral ground, noting that other high officials have quit their portfolios for fair investigations following serious charges.
The suggestion follows media reports quoting the chief of the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, who claimed that the leadership of the Ministry of Home Affairs receives a sizable slice of the money collected in the process of illegally sending Nepalese for foreign employment.
Netizens have taken a toll on Lekhak by sharing old footage of him speaking in Parliament, where he is seen as demanding the resignation of former home minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) president Rabi Lamichhane. On Friday, the Supreme Court ordered Lamichhane's judicial custody in connection with a cooperative fraud case and organised crime.
Minister Lekhak had demanded an investigation and resignation against Lamichhane, saying that embezzlement of cooperative funds was corruption.
He had stated, "We have consistently raised the issue of deputy prime minister and home minister Rabi Lamichhane's involvement in embezzlement, fraud, and misuse of cooperative funds. If any minister is subjected to an investigation on a matter previously established by this House, if a question arises and a competent body of the state is required to investigate, such a minister should be removed from office. He should resign."
Minister Lekhak also cited former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat's resignation when questions arose about him having a foreign bank account, Sher Bahadur Tamang's resignation following a controversial remark about female Nepali students pursuing MBBS in Bangladesh, and Gokul Baskota's resignation after the incriminating leak of an audio where he could be heard allegedly demanding 'commission' for a contract to print e-passports in Nepal.
Netizens have launched the #RsignRameshLekhak campaign on social media.
"Hello Ramesh Lekhak ji, is there a difference between teaching others moral lessons and becoming one? Nabean Tiwari asked on his Facebook page, "When will you resign? Or, despite being a writer, you have no idea how to write a resignation letter. #ResignRameshLekhak."
Similarly, Sumana Shrestha, former education minister and RSP legislator, took to social media, writing, "This is not a visit visa case; it is human trafficking! To all of you who send your children to unknown places without any labour rights protection, to foreigners who buy them by setting that 'price,' and to all of you who seek a fortune for yourself instead of stopping such matters - heartfelt condolences - you may not even receive hell!"
Her post further reads, "The investigation officer claims that this would not be possible without the high-ranking officials. Whose blessing was bestowed upon the Joint Secretary? #HumanTrafficking #VisitVisa #ResignRameshLekhak."
Meanwhile, Minister Lekhak has stated that if he is found to have colluded in any corruption cases since taking office as Home Minister, he will not return to politics.
During a discussion with party cadres in Dhanusha, on Saturday, Lekhak stated that there is no reason to be concerned about the allegations lodged against him.
"If anything is found against me since the day I assumed the role as home minister, I will not participate in politics from that day forward. All the issues raised will be thoroughly investigated," he stated.
"What is being posted on social media? I have just kept silent to understand why this is happening, and many things have unfolded. I'll make a statement after I leave for Kathmandu today, and I'll make another in a few days."
Subsequently, Ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary Chhabi Rijal issued a statement on Saturday claiming that the Ministry of Home Affairs' leadership is not involved in any illegal or corrupt activity.
"Serious attention has been drawn to the ministry as a result of recent news and reactions in various newspapers and social media linking the ministry's leadership to the TIA Immigration Office incident," reads the statement. "The ministry expresses regret for the publication and dissemination of such fabricated, misleading, and baseless news. We reiterate that the ministry's leadership has not and will not engage in any such illegal or corrupt activities."
The statement emphasised that the truth and facts would be revealed to everyone once the investigation was completed, as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is looking into the activities of the Immigration Office at TIA. The statement adds, "We request information, including the full cooperation of the Ministry in the investigation and investigation-related work carried out by the CIAA."
Also, posting a video message on his Facebook page later in the day, Home Minister Lekhak stated, "If any allegation regarding financial fraud is proven whether in my professional or political career. I will not only resign from my ministry portfolio but also retire from politics."
