KATHMANDU: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed sympathy towards CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is facing corruption charges.
Speaking at the inauguration of the contact office of the Madan Bhandari Foundation’s Diamond Jubilee Organizing Committee on Thursday, Bhandari said that suspending elected representatives merely on the basis of allegations contradicts democratic principles.
She stressed that until charges are legally proven, lawmakers and other people’s representatives should not be suspended. “It is not democratic to immediately suspend someone just because allegations have been made,” she remarked, adding, “Even leaders of major parties are now under suspension. At the very least, until charges are confirmed, such action is not appropriate. This does not send a positive message when people’s representatives elected by citizens are treated this way.”
Her remarks come at a time when Madhav Kumar Nepal has been suspended over corruption charges and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has been suspended from Parliament over cooperative fraud allegations.
Bhandari further noted that political parties themselves are struggling to function within the system. “We are in a full democracy, but the people’s aspirations have yet to be fulfilled. Political parties are facing internal problems and are unable to operate systematically,” she said.
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