Deputy Speaker denies requesting visa for anyone

KATHMANDU: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Indira Rana, has denied requesting visas for anyone attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2023.

In a statement issued on Friday, Rana clarified that she only requested the US Embassy in Kathmandu to set interview dates. “Since my associates were also attending the event, I only asked the US Embassy in Nepal to schedule interviews after they requested dates,” she stated. “The embassy makes its own decisions about granting visas according to its policies and procedures. I have not requested visas for anyone.”

Rana has come under scrutiny after a letter she wrote to the embassy, mentioning various individuals for visa interviews, was published by different media outlets. In the letter, seen by Himal Press, Rana has urged the embassy to expedite visa interviews for five people she referred to as members of her team.

Rana’s party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has not made any comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of Parliament, Ramhari Khatiwada, sought Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s response on the matter during the meeting held on Friday.

In response, Speaker Ghimire said the issue would be discussed separately.