Home Minister & Finance Minister involved in gold smuggling: UML MP Dasoudi

KATHMANDU: Kumar Dasoudi, a National Assembly member of the main opposition party CPN (UML), has claimed that both the home minister and the finance minister are implicated in the gold smuggling issue.

He said that the participation of Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat is confirmed as the government is apprehensive of forming a high-level probe committee.

During a sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, MP Dasoudi repeatedly stated that his party had no intention of disrupting the parliament, despite its demand for the formation of a high-level committee to conduct the state in a transparent manner and examine the case.

He said, ‘We have no intention to block our parliament. But the government should be ready to investigate gold smuggling. That investigation committee is necessary for the interest of the country and the people. We have serious doubts about the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Finance in this matter. That is why it is necessary to demand the formation of an inquiry committee. However, the government is afraid.’

MP Dasoudi also questioned the government as to how quintals of gold entered the Tribhuvan International Airport, which is under strict surveillance by the state’s security agencies.