KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane spoke of retaliation against the General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa, during Sunday’s meeting of the the House of Representatives.
This follows allegations of cooperative fraud leveled against Lamichhane.
Nepali Congress has now positioned Gagan Thapa against Lamichhane, despite their previously close relationship.
Their close ties were evident during the 2079 BS election for Kathmandu Constituency-4.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which Lamichhane leads, facilitated Thapa’s campaign by not contesting in Kathmandu-4, while fielding candidates in all other constituencies of Kathmandu.
This strategic move was reportedly agreed upon by both Gagan and Rabi, causing a stir within the Nepali Congress party.
Lamichhane, who was granted permission to address Parliament after a two-month hiatus due to aggressive behavior, seized the opportunity to retaliate against Thapa.
“The kind of criticism that was made was not done from a position of integrity. Now the Parliament will have to decide how to create history and uphold parliamentary dignity,” Lamichhane stated. “I want to discuss here some news and certain individuals in the media.”
Focusing on Thapa, Lamichhane recounted an old accusation: “In 2055 BS, when he was the President of Free Students Union, there was a report from the Auditor General about corruption in the construction of a park at Trichandra College, amounting to more than rs 30 lakhs,” he said, targeting Gagan.
Lamichhane also mentioned the contentious issue of goat rearing, which has been a point of controversy for Thapa.
“There were reports about a goat farm in Nuwakot and a meat shop in Golfutar, Kathmandu, opened under the name Sunkhani Integrated Agriculture Center from the Commercial Agriculture and Trade Project (PACT). These were closed in 2068 BS,” he said.
He added that there were contradictions in statements regarding this project, and a fact-check by South Asia Check, which has since disappeared from their website under questionable circumstances.
Additionally, Lamichhane accused Thapa of taking Rs 14 crores from Rajkumar Rauniyar under the pretense of making him the vice-chancellor of BP Foundation.
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