Opposition Criticizes Passport Printing Corruption and Government Interference

Kathmandu. The main opposition party Nepali Congress has objected to the billions of rupees in financial dealings in passport printing and the government's interference in constitutional bodies. Opposition parties including Congress had protested at the beginning of the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday.

After that, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal gave the floor to Congress MP Khadak Bahadur Buda. Buda said that the issue of corruption should be investigated impartially and that even if one's own party leader or minister is involved, they should not be exempted.

MP Buda said that there was a serious irregularity in the passport printing procurement process. 'Whoever is involved in passport printing, whether it is our party's leader or minister, no matter how powerful, must be brought under the purview of action. We will fully support impartial and lawful investigation,' Buda said.

MP Buda said that the Director General of the Department of Passports was threatened and pressured to cancel the new agreement for cheaper supply and purchase from the old company at a higher price of $2 per passport. Accusing the government of trying to indulge in corruption through variation orders, he said, 'Adding scams worth billions like the past 'Omni' will not be accepted at all.'

Buda also objected to the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority being held hostage and threatened in the Prime Minister's Office. He also raised questions about the autonomy of constitutional bodies.

'Should the CIAA tremble seeing the Prime Minister or should the Prime Minister be afraid thinking of the CIAA when considering doing something wrong?' MP Buda questioned, 'Making the CIAA an order-following institution of the Prime Minister's Office is a mockery of democracy.'

He criticized the government's style of functioning, stating that the Prime Minister's advisors were trying to issue orders, violating the dignity of ministers and constitutional bodies. He alleged that the government was trying to rule by decree, not by constitution or law.

MP Buda accused the opposition's voice in the parliament was not being heard and that the government was only focused on cheap talk of good governance.