Gagan demands impartial probes, criticizes immunity of leaders

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary, Gagan Kumar Thapa, has expressed strong objections to attempts aimed at stifling investigations into scams merely due to the involvement of senior leaders.

Speaking at a program in Jhapa on Sunday, Thapa said all should be subject to investigation regardless of their political affiliations. He also called for comprehensive inquiries into notorious scams like the Lalita Niwas land case, gold smuggling, and the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate.

Thapa highlighted a disconcerting trend where leaders initially express intentions to probe these issues individually, but ultimately reach agreements to halt investigations across the board. “This is unacceptable,” Thapa emphasized, underscoring the importance of impartial investigations.

He also urged the Nepali Congress leadership not to exert pressure that might hinder investigations into these cases. “The Nepali Congress should stand firm in demanding that every scandal be thoroughly investigated, irrespective of whether our party’s leaders are implicated,” Thapa asserted. He added, “Innocent individuals must not be falsely accused, while the guilty must not be allowed to evade justice.”

Commenting on the recent transfer of senior police officials, Thapa criticized the involvement of the Nepali Congress in such matters. He stressed that mistakes made by top leaders should not burden the party’s cadres.

Thapa also criticized the consensus among senior leaders within the ruling coalition to exempt former Prime Ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai from the investigation in the Lalita Niwas land grab scandal. He advocated for transparency in conversations between senior leaders within the ruling coalition. “Decisions made among these leaders should be made public to ensure accountability and foster trust among citizens,” he added.