Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The main opposition, CPN (Maoist Centre), has demanded the resignation of the Minister for Home Affairs, Ramesh Lekhak, for his involvement in the ‘visit visa’ scam.
Maoist Center Spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota said a meeting of leaders held on Monday at party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar took the decision.
“Home Minister Lekhak must resign immediately to allow for a fair and impartial investigation,” Sapkota said, speaking to reporters after the meeting.
He argued that Lekhak’s alleged role in facilitating visit visas for Nepalis to travel abroad warrants his resignation on moral grounds. Sapkota also added that even leaders of Lekhak’s party have sought his resignation. “The longer the delay, the more the state’s credibility will suffer,” he added.
Earlier, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) demanded Lekhak’s resignation, alleging the involvement of Lekhak and his secretariat in human trafficking under the guise of visit visas.
Similarly, Dr Shekhar Koirala, who leads the anti-establishment faction within the Nepali Congress (NC), has urged Lekhak to step down on moral grounds.
However, NC has stood by Lekhak, stating that he is not involved in the scandal and therefore has no reason to resign. NC Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said on Monday that Lekhak has clarified his position to the party. “The home minister has explained his role in detail. Since there is no evidence implicating him, his resignation is not necessary,” Mahat said.
Controversy has swirled around Lekhak following allegations that members of his secretariat accepted payments to facilitate visit visas for international travel by forging documents.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently summoned Home Ministry Joint Secretary Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, who was recently transferred from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office, for questioning.
