KATHMANDU: As calls for action against Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak grow intense within the Nepali Congress, particularly from the establishment faction, Lekhak made a discreet visit to senior Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who has publicly called for his resignation over the ongoing visit visa scandal.
Lekhak reportedly visited Koirala on Tuesday morning at around 8 a.m. at his contact office in Baluwatar, with sources close to Koirala saying the two had a conversation lasting 10 to 40 minutes. The meeting comes after Koirala’s statement in Biratnagar on May 24, where he said Lekhak should resign on moral grounds due to his alleged involvement in irregular visa practices at Tribhuvan International Airport’s immigration office.
“It would show integrity if the Home Minister resigned,” Koirala had said earlier.
Following Koirala’s remarks, a meeting of the Congress leadership and former office bearers at party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence on May 26 discussed whether to seek an explanation from Koirala and his allies. This caused further dissatisfaction, with Koirala later expressing surprise that the meeting focused only on him rather than broader national issues.
“I thought the meeting at the Party President’s residence would be about the country, but it was all about me,” Koirala said at a program in Biratnagar on May 27.
Koirala also met General Secretary Gagan Thapa on May 30, reportedly agreeing to hold off on further action regarding the Home Minister’s resignation until June 3, to evaluate the situation.
Sources say Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had advised Lekhak to manage party concerns regarding the scandal, which likely led to Tuesday’s secretive meeting. During the meeting, Lekhak denied any involvement in the alleged visa-setting racket and claimed he was being falsely accused.
“He insisted he had no hand in the visa setting issue and that his name was being dragged unfairly,” a Koirala-affiliated leader told Khabarhub.
Lekhak also reportedly asked Koirala to refrain from speaking further on the matter, stating that it could complicate things for him, the coalition government, and the party.
In response, Koirala said he had not personally targeted Lekhak and had only spoken out based on democratic values.
“Once questions are raised, they must be addressed. That’s a democratic principle,” he said, according to sources, adding that his statements were meant to strengthen the party’s moral standing.
Koirala also expressed dissatisfaction over criticisms directed at him during the Congress leadership meeting and reportedly refused to retract his previous statement regarding Lekhak’s resignation.
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