KATHMANDU: Independent lawmaker Dr. Amaresh Kumar Singh has accused the government of influencing investigations into the Bhutanese refugee scam, stating that the administration formed in its aftermath is now obstructing the very inquiry that justified its existence.
Speaking during the ongoing discussion on the government’s policy and program in the House of Representatives on Monday, MP Singh emphasized that good governance must be evident in action, not merely on paper.
“This government was formed due to the Bhutanese refugee scandal. I had protested in this very chamber with my shirt open, demanding an investigation. Where does that investigation stand now?” he questioned. “And what about the Widebody and Teramox scandals—what progress has been made there?”
Singh went on to accuse the current government of corruption, particularly through its increasing reliance on foreign loans. He also criticized what he called a growing obsession with power among government officials.
“The two-thirds majority government is walking naked,” he declared. “Since its formation, the space for small parties, indigenous communities, Dalits, women, and Madhesis has been shrinking. Their voices are being pushed out.”
He also slammed the government’s development priorities, accusing it of neglecting essential infrastructure while promoting impractical projects.
“The government talks about ships and trains when it can’t even fix roads. What we need are roads, not ships. But the government has empowered middlemen instead—it’s institutionalizing a system of brokerage,” he said.
Singh further criticized the government for prioritizing the creation of new universities and appointing its loyalists to key academic posts, while failing to retain students within the country.
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