Bagmati Province Minister Responds to MP Rajiv Khatri's Allegations

Hetauda. Minister of Labor, Employment and Transport of Bagmati Province, Jayaram Thapa, has protested the statement of Federal Member of Parliament Rajiv Khatri of Rastriya Swatantra Party. 

On Tuesday, after MP Khatri demanded an investigation into the Chief Minister and Transport Minister of Bagmati Province regarding the health check-up fee while obtaining a driving license in the House of Representatives meeting of the Federal Parliament, Minister Thapa expressed his objection through a press release. 

Issuing a press release on Wednesday, Minister Thapa stated that MP Khatri's statement is completely fabricated, misleading, and a blatant interference in the constitutional rights of the provincial government. The press release mentioned that it is unfortunate that a person holding a dignified position like a Federal Member of Parliament does not even consider the jurisdiction of the three tiers of government clarified by the constitution.

'Such a statement made by a Federal Member of Parliament is an insult to the people's representatives,' said Minister Thapa, 'Violating the province's jurisdiction for personal vested interest, despite having knowledge, is a violation of the constitution and a betrayal of the voters.'

He has demanded that MP Khatri withdraw his statement, and has also urged the Speaker to remove the statement from the parliamentary record otherwise.

The press release claimed that the allegations made by MP Khatri are baseless. Minister Thapa clarified that although the current government was formed on July 20, 2082 BS, the decision to set a health check-up fee of Rs 175 was made by the Council of Ministers in the previous government on May 22, 2081 BS. The minister argued that accusing the current government of patronizing middlemen without understanding the facts is merely political prejudice.

Minister Thapa stated that the fee was determined to ensure uniformity by listing doctors in accordance with the directive of the Department of Transport Management and the province's law. The ministry stated that the decision was taken based on the recommendation of the Medical Service Provider Fee Recommendation Committee to manage the complaints of monopoly and financial irregularities that arose in the past when only one firm was selected.

Minister Thapa accused that raising such an issue in the parliament while the matter is currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court and the court has already issued an interim order twice not to stop the proceedings is contempt of court and an attempt to influence the case. 'Making a statement in the Federal Parliament in a way that influences a case under judicial consideration is the height of irresponsibility,' the press release stated.

Minister Thapa reminded that the Home Minister of the Federal Government had acknowledged the existence of three tiers of government by defending the local government some time ago and warned MP Khatri not to adopt double standards. Reminding that only the Provincial Assembly and its parliamentary committees have the right to monitor the activities of the provincial government, Minister Thapa clarified that the ministry is always ready for any investigation. .