The visit visa scandal made headlines after the country’s anti-graft body raided the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) immigration and arrested several officials, including the chief, for issuing visas by accepting bribes that ran into tens of thousands of rupees. The central issue is that the visit visas are obtained by bribing immigration officials and middlemen to travel abroad. Some used them to work illegally abroad, while others utilized them to settle abroad. People with a criminal background took advantage of these visas to slip out of the nation. The arrested immigration officials are accused of compelling even genuine Nepali migrant workers to cough up money. Many were aware of the foul play, but the issue gained prominence after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) sprang into action.
The scam has cast a shadow on the Home Minister. The opposition parties have been protesting in parliament, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. They alleged that immigration officials could not be involved in corruption without his knowledge, which Lekhak has vehemently denied. The ongoing protest in the parliament prompted the government to set up a committee led by Shankar Das Bairagi, a retired high-ranking official. The team includes six joint secretaries from key ministries. They have been instructed to submit their report in three months. Their task is to investigate how visit visas are being used, what issues have arisen from the system, and what reforms are necessary. Their work must not interfere with ongoing investigations by the anti-corruption agency, the CIAA.
However, not everyone is pleased with this committee. Many political parties, especially those in opposition, are critical of its formation. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) believe the committee will not operate fairly. They argue that it should have been led by a retired judge, someone more independent from the government. RSP leader Dr. Swarnim Wagle has been very vocal. He claims that the Home Minister chose Bairagi for personal reasons, not for the public good. He even accused the minister of pulling Bairagi’s name from his pocket and appointing him without broader discussion. Dr. Wagle added that all the committee members have once worked under Bairagi, which raises questions about fairness.
Govt forms high-level committee to probe visit visa scandal
The RPP has also expressed doubts. Its leaders said that forming such a committee is like letting a cat guard a pot of milk. They believe that those who may have caused the problem are now being asked to investigate it. This, they argue, will not help build trust in the probe body. In the midst of all this, the Maoist Centre, another key party, has taken a different approach. Initially, it protested strongly and even blocked Parliament. Later on, though, it consented to support the committee in exchange for specific terms. Many think this change happened because of political deals.
Some say the government quietly met certain demands from Maoist leaders to gain their support. If it is true, it shows that political agreements still influence many decisions in our nation. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is under scrutiny. Social media users have bombarded him with criticism. Some call him unfit to lead the ministry. He now finds himself in a situation similar to what RSP leader Rabi Lamichhane faced when he was Home Minister in a cooperative fund scam. At that time, Lekhak demanded a fair investigation.
The visa scandal is not limited to one person, ministry or party. It has highlighted the system that has been out of sync for years. Interestingly, most of those who were in charge during those years are silent. No former home minister or top immigration official has spoken up.
The opposition parties are attempting to take advantage of this situation. RSP has its justifications, particularly in light of the party chief's previous arrest. RPP is trying to win the trust of those who are within the system. These two parties are walking different paths from the Maoists, who seem more willing to work within the existing power structure. In any event, it is evident that people are fed up with the same old political games. What they want is action and real changes, not a committee with the same old faces. The Bairagi-led committee, however, has a chance to bring out facts. If it works with honesty and courage, it might fix the broken system and then restore trust in the government, whose real test has begun following the formation of the committee.
