KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has denied allegations of political revenge in the ongoing cooperative fraud investigation.
He stated that the government is committed to ensuring justice for citizens affected by the scam.
Speaking at the eighth meeting of the UML Central Committee on Sunday, Oli rejected claims made by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, who accused the government of targeting him unfairly.
“We are clear that no one who misuses public savings should be spared. Justice must be served, regardless of who is involved,” Oli said.
He criticized attempts to politicize the investigation and prosecution of those involved in the cooperative scandal.
He added that several individuals, including those associated with ruling parties, are being investigated and prosecuted, which disproves allegations of bias.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of respecting judicial processes. He said that if someone is innocent, there is no reason to fear the judiciary.
“Those who are guilty must understand that street protests cannot replace the court or provide immunity,” he remarked.
Oli also discussed steps to resolve the crisis in the cooperative sector.
He highlighted the need for strict legal action against those involved in irregularities, the reimbursement of depositors’ savings, and the establishment of a fund to protect deposits in the future.
He shared that over 500 individuals involved in the scam are in custody, and more than 1,000 cases are being prosecuted.
Of the 69,000 affected depositors from 22 cooperatives, full refunds worth Rs 1.55 billion have been made to around 6,000 depositors. Partial refunds have been given to thousands of others.
Oli said the government is working to resolve the issue while ensuring that no one involved in the misuse of citizens’ savings goes unpunished.
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