KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has questioned the claim that political retaliation is being targeted at a single individual in cooperative scam cases, emphasizing that hundreds are facing legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Oli made the remarks on Wednesday during a session of the House of Representatives, specifically addressing Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane.
“Hundreds of individuals accused of embezzling the savings of millions in cooperatives are facing court cases. The courts are handling these cases,” PM Oli said. “Dozens of former ministers, ex-MPs, sitting mayors and officials have been sent to jail by the courts. Yet, some are trying to portray the pretrial detention of a single person as political retaliation. If retaliation is claimed against one, what about the others?”
He further asked, “Is that legal action? Among the hundreds imprisoned over billions of rupees in misappropriation, against whom is retaliation being claimed? Whose detention is justified?”
PM Oli also pointed out that even members of the ruling party have been detained and questioned whether that was also considered retaliation by his government.