KATHMANDU: Following the arrest of Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and the initiation of investigations into cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, RSP has launched street protests.
This raises the question: Why protest over an issue that should be resolved through the court system? This question has been posed to RSP leaders.
To address this question, we spoke with lawmaker Hari Dhakal, an active member of RSP involved in the street movement in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
We asked him about the reasons behind RSP’s movement and whether it might interfere with the judicial process.
MP Dhakal clarified that the movement targets the government, not the court. He asserted that the government arrested Rabi Lamichhane out of political revenge or vengeance.
Dhakal alleged that Prime Minister KP Oli, the CPN-UML party, and the Gagan Thapa faction of Nepali Congress pursued Rabi for a year and a half before his arrest.
Additionally, MP Dhakal stated that RSP is committed to returning the money lost by savers in the cooperative.
He urged those affected by the cooperatives to join them in their struggles, promising continued protests both on the streets and in the legislative Houses.
Here is an excerpt from the conversation with RSP leader Dhakal:
When the court is investigating Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, why did the protesters disrupt the investigation?
Currently, there is no functioning Parliament. We have also called for a special session, but the government has not performed well.
Our place is on the streets. We have not done anything to influence the court; I have full confidence in the judicial process and have not exerted any pressure on it.
Regarding the return of funds to victims of the cooperatives, our party established a committee led by Dr. Swarnim Wagle during the Jaleshwar meeting a year ago.
This committee developed a preliminary plan to address the issues facing the cooperatives.
However, even after submitting the report to the government, no action has been taken. Therefore, our next option is to take to the streets.
The general public is now disillusioned following the formation of the alliance between the two major parties.
Participation in our movement has increased significantly on the second and third days compared to the first.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we saw widespread participation in Pokhara. When we protest outside, it does not impact the court’s decisions.
Shouldn’t the party that initiated the ‘blue revolution’ campaign remain silent and supportive when one of their leaders is under investigation?
What you’ve said is correct; we would have done the same. However, due to political revenge and prejudice, we felt compelled to take to the streets.
The investigation committee’s report indicated that Rabi Lamichhane did not directly owe funds from the cooperative, but those funds were linked to Gorkha Media.
The issue of organized crime arises here. We assisted the police in obtaining the arrest warrant without interfering with the court proceedings, but this is not organized crime. The air of conspiracy and suspicion began there.
Regarding Gorkha Media, the party chairman has expressed his willingness to address the issue if he is found guilty of any misconduct.
He has stated, “How much is my share? I am ready to help the process.”
We traveled from Kathmandu to Pokhara with ease. There seems to be an effort to undermine the entire political system by branding organized crime and associating criminals with our party, which has hindered RSP’s rise.
Vengeance is evident. When we were labeled as involved in organized crime, we became suspicious, prompting our movement.
Is it true that Lamichhane did not commit organized crime?
Yes, he did not commit organized crime. The major parties are attempting to eliminate his political presence by any means necessary.
We are uncertain whether the court will make a decision aligned with the government’s request, but the government’s intentions are misguided.
Since our arrival, there have been some disruptions. However, we are part of this society and community.
During our campaign, we came from Bibeksheel and acknowledge our shortcomings.
Trusting KP Oli may have been a mistake, as the major parties have not accepted our emergence.
If this animosity continues, it could threaten our new power in the upcoming elections, as they aim to dismantle it.
Had the emergence of a new party been accepted, the former prime minister, who has held office four times, would not still be contesting with the Mayor of Kathmandu.
During the confidence vote, Oli only targeted us with his rhetoric. We are labeled as children, grandchildren, and more.
We have experienced challenges within our organizational structure. Recently, the Nepali Congress’s Gagan Thapa expressed jealousy towards Rabi, prompting UML to take full action against us since we have defeated their candidates in five constituencies.
Currently, negative analyses of our party workers have been mistaken for analyses of the party itself.
The reality is that a case has been pursued against us as a cooperative issue for one and a half years without finding substantial evidence.
The chairman has stated that if he is proven guilty of fraud, he will exit politics.
Nonetheless, he asserts that he was associated with JB Rai and received a salary.
Even after the report indicated that no funds were directly taken, the case was pursued as organized crime through various tactics.
If we examine the truth closely, it appears that efforts are underway to stifle the newly emerged party, as this could threaten political advantages.
If the court proves the allegations, he is prepared to accept the consequences. If he had engaged in political maneuvers, it might have been different, but he did not. This is the reality.
Externally, it may seem otherwise, but internally, these major parties are devising various strategies to undermine RSP and Ravi Lamichhane.
We are aware of this. Oli views us as a threat. The UML is attempting to halt our momentum, but we will not be stopped. The public is discerning.
I advocate for clean politics. Discussions about disbanding our party occasionally arise, but we remain resolute.
This is our new campaign. In the past 70 years, most young people are now more aware than ever.
However, the major parties are attempting to undermine the progress we’ve made. We are the proponents of a new campaign that has emerged alongside Bibeksheel.
Rabi stated that if he had joined the major party, RSP would not have faced this outcome. Even during his arrest, the Chairman echoed this sentiment. What was that assurance?
It is true that the President of the Nepali Congress offered the Prime Minister position to Lamichhane as the previous alliance was fracturing.
However, we placed our trust in Oli. He was offered the Prime Ministership in the middle of the night, but Lamichhane declined.
Second, while our alliance held the majority in the previous arrangement, a new coalition was formed that transformed yesterday’s main opposition party into the government.
All committee members, except Shishir Khanal and those from the RPP, were from the ruling party. That request originated there.
They influenced the committee by making a ruckus for a month and a half, claiming that Gagan Thapa had proof.
Gorkha Media should not have been involved, but they were taken there and buried. What relevance does it have to a person with a job regarding where the money came from?
There are state agencies designated for that. After Gorkha Media was implicated, Ravi began to be ensnared.
We now lead the movement for cooperative victims because these old party workers are involved in significant fraud.
Another point is that even if our president is jailed, RSVP politics will continue.
Even if he is framed, our party will emerge even stronger. We will present our case separately, both in the House and on the streets.
You mentioned the ordinance related to the division of parties, and there are rumors that even the leader of RSP might join UML or Congress. What is unique about this situation?
While they may engage in self-serving politics, our friends remain united.
If UML had performed well when it held a two-thirds majority last time, neither RSVP would have emerged nor would we be in this situation.
We have been in politics for two and a half years, while they have been active for 70 years.
In such a short time, we haven’t uncovered everything, but we are confident that we are unified.
No one can undermine RSP through manipulation. We do not support any moves to establish a two-party system through ordinances that would split the party.
What do you say to the cooperative victims?
We have consistently protested on their behalf. We stand by the principle that they deserve justice.
The cooperative victims are suffering. Billions of rupees have been embezzled by individuals under party protection.
Look at Dhanraj and Rishikesh. What we ask of the victims is to support us for a while, and we will advocate for them later.
There are two issues within the cooperatives: Many party workers are safeguarding wealth in the cooperatives.
The money they have hoarded through corruption is also in these cooperatives.
While the interest accrued on legitimate savings is fair, funds obtained through corruption lack a proper source.
The UML is the promoter of this cooperative system. They acquired properties during the crisis and victimized ordinary citizens.
Small and medium savers have been particularly hard-hit. We have supported this movement politically.
We urge citizens to support us; together, we can resolve all cooperative issues.
The House will open in November, and if we raise our voices strongly from both the streets and the House, the savings will be restored.
The issues will be resolved if the report submitted from the Jaleshwar meeting is implemented.
However, there has been resistance to implementing it, as they try to deflect blame onto Rabi.
We are accounting for the embezzlement of Rs 86 billion and urge you to support us now. We will refund your money and move forward.
Let me remind you that Sri Lanka’s president consulted Swarnim Wagle last year during the economic recession.
Economist Wagle provided some recommendations, stating that Sri Lanka’s economy is returning to normal.
He is a globally recognized economist, yet the report aimed at resolving the cooperative crisis was disregarded.
Had that solution been taken seriously, all cooperative funds could have been restored. I say this emphatically: reports matter.
For this reason, I urge cooperative victims from across the country to unite.
How long is the RSP prepared to hold the protests?
CK Raut’s Janamat Party has also geared up for the movement. The streets are calling for people.
The major political parties have not heeded this call. The streets are restless.
In this environment, we will take the lead in the movement until the funds of the cooperatives are returned, both in the House and on the streets.
We are also correct regarding the electricity tariff; we may have been confused at some point.
However, we will continue to take to the streets and the House on every issue of corruption. Regarding cooperatives, wherever the Chairman is, we will protest until 2084 BS.
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