Parliamentary probe committee meeting ends inconclusively

KATHMANDU: The meeting of the parliamentary committee formed to investigate the misuse of funds by cooperative institutions has concluded without reaching any conclusion.

Despite the decision to form a parliamentary committee to investigate the misappropriation of funds by cooperative institutions, the meeting of the formed task force has ended inconclusively.

Due to the confrontation between the ruling and opposition party members present at the meeting held at the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, the meeting has ended without reaching a conclusion.

The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has insisted on forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane’s involvement in the cooperative savings misappropriation case.

During the morning meeting, the Congress representative mentioned the alleged involvement of Minister Lamichhane in the misappropriation. “As seen in the media, money came from the cooperative, and Rabi Lamichhane is associated with its misappropriation. This issue needs to be investigated,” said Congress Deputy Minister Jiwan Pariyar after the meeting, adding, “There is no compromise from our side.”

He further explained that another meeting will be scheduled to reach a consensus. Congress representatives have urged the ruling party to find a “middle ground” for consensus. “We are asking the ruling party to come up with a proposal to find a middle ground,” they said.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Bartaula, the chief secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre), stated that a constructive discussion had taken place in a cordial atmosphere. “It’s positive. We need to sit together and discuss. They also need to participate in the discussion,” he said. “There is no consensus like coming out. The consensus is to end the deadlock in the House by consensus.”