KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has urged Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign on moral grounds amid the Immigration Department corruption scandal.

Speaking from Biratnagar, Koirala noted that previous ministers stepped down to support investigations, and Lekhak should do the same to uphold integrity.

He also criticized constitutional bodies for becoming “retirement clubs” for officials and stressed the need for a mandatory cooling-off period after retirement.

Koirala emphasized that democratic parties should not fear a referendum, proposing that Congress, UML, and Maoist Centre jointly seek public opinion on restoring Nepal as a Hindu state or constitutional monarchy.

Koirala reaffirmed his call to hold the Nepali Congress general convention by Mangsir 2082 and urged party members to push for timely organization.