Will not let off anyone involved in cooperative fraud: Minister Gurung

KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said that the government would not let anyone off named in the report of the Parliamentary Investigation Committee on Cooperative Fraud.

Addressing the Tamu Journalism Award Distribution and Launching of the Gurung News.com Year Book Programme organized by Tamu (Gurung) Mediapersons' Association Nepal here today, Minister Gurung, who is also the government spokesman, expressed the government's determination to bring to justice anyone implicated in the cooperative fund misappropriation as per the report prepared by the Parliamentary Investigation Committee under lawmaker Surya Thapa's leadership.

He said that no one was above the law and made it clear anybody whether they are the leaders or cadres of the Nepali Congress, the UML, Maoist or any other party would be brought to justice.

Stating that all those named by lawmaker Thapa's report cannot be brought to justice simultaneously together now, Minister Gurung said, "We will not let off any one and take action against them turn by turn. Let those involved in cooperative fraud never think that they can escape the law. All will be arrested as per the law."

He termed as unconstitutional the protest demonstration aimed at freeing Rabi Lamichhane, the President of Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP), who is in police custody in connection with investigation process on the charge of cooperative fraud.

The government spokesman also expressed his objection over such acts which according to him are carried out with the objective of influencing the case which is being considered by the court, calling attention of the sides concerned not to carry out activities that are against the democratic conduct and process.

"It is the RSP's responsibility to cooperate in the investigation process against its leader. It is not at all appropriate to seek to influence the investigation process by organizing sit-in and protest demos, until the Respected Court gives its verdict. I urge RSP to stand on the side of the rule of law and the due process, rather than the undemocratic acts," Minister Gurung reiterated.