Ruling coalition has agreed to form a probe committee: Dahal

KATHMANDU: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the ruling coalition has expressed its commitment to investigate the visit visa controversy.

Talking to reporters on the Federal Parliament premises on Thursday, Dahal said the ruling coalition has responded positively to the opposition’s demand for a thorough investigation into the issue. “The two sides could reach a consensus on Friday,” Dahal said. “The investigation will begin once the investigation committee is formed. This investigation has no connection with the investigation being conducted by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

The opposition parties have been obstructing House proceedings since May 27, accusing Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak of protecting a racket extorting money from Nepali migrant workers traveling to foreign countries on a visit visa. They have accused Lekhak of transferring Joint Secretary Tiratha Raj Bhattarai from the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office back to the ministry after the CIAA launched its investigation.

Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada also said political parties were close to reaching a consensus on the visit visa controversy. “A three-point agreement could be signed on Friday between the ruling and opposition parties,” Khatiwada said, adding that the government was ready to undertake corrective measures without interfering with the ongoing CIAA investigation into the issue.