I am being subjected to political vendetta, says Lamichhane

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, who is accused of misappropriating cooperative savings, has claimed that he is being subjected to political vendetta.

Speaking from the party office in Banasthali late Sunday evening after news outlets claimed that police had reached party office to arrest him, Lamichhane said that he was being sacrificed to save someone else’s political career.

“Don’t try to sacrifice me to save someone’s politics. If you have the courage, come forward,” he said. “Don’t try to defeat me through conspiracy. Win by contesting elections, not through such schemes.”

He also claimed he had done nothing wrong. “Those who have done wrong are in hiding, while I am here holding my head high. I have made it clear to the government,” he added, “I do not need your sympathy or mercy. I am ready to go wherever necessary for investigation.”

Earlier, Lamichhane talked to his lawyers after news of his impending arrest following the home ministry’s directive to the police to implement the parliamentary investigation committee’s report on the misuse of cooperative savings was carried by different media outlets.

“They are saying Rabi Lamichhane is hiding, that he ran away in fear. I am right here, in front of you,” Lamichhane said. “The inquiry committee’s report has already stated that I am not guilty. Why should I be afraid? why should I run?”

He accused the government of conspiring against him by linking him to the cooperative fraud case. “Rs 87 billion has been embezzled in cooperatives. But why is the government’s focus only on Rabi Lamichhane? The government is trying to finish off Rabi Lamichhane and the RSP,” he said.

He objected to the media focusing solely on him instead of the cooperative fraud victims. “The media’s attention should be on returning the money to cooperative victims. But it’s only focused on me,” he added.

Lamichhane warned party leaders and workers not to trust this government, saying it could do anything.

Police have reportedly kept Lamichhane under surveillance after arresting former DIG Chhabilal Jashi, a former director of Gorkha Media Network.

The parliamentary investigation committee said in its report that cooperative savings were transferred to Gorkha Media Network. Lamichhane served as the managing director of Gorkha Media Network before he started RSP.