KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has come under intense political fire after making controversial remarks in Parliament, where he referred to media outlets critical of him as rags and issued indirect threats to opposition lawmakers over alleged corruption investigations.
During Thursday’s parliamentary debate on the budget, Minister Wagle strongly reacted to questions raised over changes in tax rates included in the Finance Bill for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27. Opposition lawmakers and media reports had alleged repeated manipulation of tax structures, which they claim was exposed through detailed reporting.
However, speaking in Parliament, the minister defended himself by comparing the current budget with previous fiscal years, stating that the earlier government had made 73 amendments to the Finance Bill, while his changes were minimal.
In a heated statement, Wagle dismissed critical media reports, saying: “A couple of rags wrote about suspicions of two billion irregularities. If even two rupees of wrongdoing is proven against me, I will resign from my ministerial post and even leave public life. Let those pointing fingers at me also show similar moral courage.”
He further escalated tensions by indirectly warning the opposition, saying: “Do we not know about your past scandals? Those too will be revealed.”
Despite the aggressive remarks, the Finance Minister did not formally request a parliamentary investigation against himself or propose any independent probe through the Speaker.
Opposition demands parliamentary probe
Opposition lawmakers have long been raising concerns over alleged manipulation of tax rates in the budget. However, they had not initially demanded a formal parliamentary investigation committee.
Following Wagle’s controversial remarks, the opposition has now intensified its stance, demanding an immediate parliamentary probe.
Speaking in the House on Friday, leaders including Nepali Communist Party leader Barshaman Pun, Labor Culture Party chair Harka Sampang, and CPN-UML lawmakers urged the formation of a parliamentary investigation committee.
Earlier, Rastriya Prajatantra Party parliamentary leader Gyanendra Shahi had already called for a probe into the Finance Minister.
CPN-UML lawmaker Guru Baral also demanded a formal investigation, stating that any alleged manipulation of tax rates must be independently reviewed.
“We are ready to distinguish truth from falsehood regarding past events,” Baral said in Parliament. “But allegations of tampering with tax rates in the budget cannot be ignored. A parliamentary committee must immediately investigate this matter.”
Former Finance Minister and NCP leader Barshaman Pun also called for Speaker-level intervention, stating that the Finance Minister’s remarks amounted to parliamentary misconduct.
He said that the minister had openly admitted to adjusting tax rates, which he described as a serious issue requiring investigation.
Similarly, Shram Sanskriti Party chair Harka Sampang also supported the demand for a parliamentary probe, arguing that any allegation against the government must be independently investigated to ensure transparency.
As pressure mounts from the opposition, questions are being raised over whether Finance Minister Wagle will face an official investigation—or manage to politically survive the controversy without accountability.
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