KATHMANDU: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari has denied involvement in the recent bribery controversy that has stirred political debate over the past three days.
His name surfaced in an audio recording of a conversation between Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Raj Kumar Gupta and a middleman, allegedly regarding appointments to the chair of the Land Commission in Kaski and the chief of the Land Revenue Office.
In the leaked audio, Minister Gupta is heard saying that Minister Adhikari had already received payment and would therefore not carry out the task. Responding to the allegations in Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Adhikari claimed he was wrongly implicated in a deal he had no part in.
He emphasized that decisions regarding appointments were not his responsibility and that merely being mentioned in someone else’s conversation should not be construed as evidence of wrongdoing. “Let’s pursue the truth based on facts, not hearsay,” he said, adding that if proof of any bribery involving him emerges, he is ready to face legal consequences.
Minister Adhikari also urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of a land-related bill currently under discussion. Meanwhile, calls for the resignation of both ministers have intensified in Parliament and on the streets.
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