KATHMANDU: Gagan Thapa, the general secretary of the Nepali Congress, has reiterated the necessity of holding individuals accountable for encroaching on public lands, forging citizenships, and perpetrating cooperative fraud.

Speaking at the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Wednesday, Thapa emphasized that regardless of their stature or influence, individuals found guilty of such transgressions must face the full force of the law.

Against the backdrop of Arun Chaudhary’s recent arrest in connection with the Bansbari-based Leather Shoe Factory land scandal, Thapa underscored the imperative of upholding the rule of law, asserting that no individual, irrespective of their political or economic clout, is exempt from adherence to legal norms, particularly concerning the appropriation of public resources.

Thapa further emphasized the urgency of curbing the prevailing practice of granting leniency based on individuals’ affiliations with political parties.