KATHMANDU: Internal friction has surfaced within the Nepali Congress after some party leaders demanded the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the visit visa controversy.
During a meeting of the party’s office bearers and former office bearers held Monday at party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha, several leaders urged Deuba to seek clarification from those demanding Lekhak’s resignation.
Former General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala confirmed that the meeting saw a proposal to question Dr. Shekhar Koirala, along with lawmakers Sunil Sharma and Rajendra Bajgain, for their recent statements calling for Lekhak’s resignation.
“We told President Deuba: summon them and ask what’s going on. There needs to be a resolution,” said Koirala. “What’s the point of internal conflict? It never benefits the party. So, ask for clarification from Dr. Shekhar, Sunil, and Rajendra.”
However, President Deuba did not commit to any concrete action on the matter. “He neither agreed nor disagreed,” Koirala said. “He just said he would look into it. But I believe it must be done.”
On Saturday, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, speaking to journalists in his hometown of Biratnagar, had suggested that Home Minister Lekhak should resign. Lawmakers Sharma and Bajgain have also been vocal in their stance, stating Lekhak should step down over the visa scandal.
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