Nepal government refuses to form parliamentary panel

 KATHMANDU: Nepal Government on Thursday rejected the demands of the main opposition, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) to form a parliamentary committee to probe the 100 kg gold smuggling case.

Nepal Government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said that there is no need to form a high-level probe committee to investigate the matter despite continued protests by CPN-UML.

“The Department of Revenue Investigation has the right to conduct the investigation and it is undertaking the investigations and has made the commitment to reach the root cause of the smuggling. At this time forming another committee to investigate the matter would divert the issue and impact the investigation,” Rekha Sharma said in a media briefing on Thursday.

Earlier, CPN-UML and some members of the ruling Nepali Congress cornered the government in Parliament on Wednesday demanding a credible probe into the smuggling of gold in huge quantities and the resignation of Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha to ensure a fair investigation.

“Creating another committee now with a varied approach would impact the (ongoing) investigation and might delay the arrest of those behind it. The government firmly believes it. Dialogues have continued over the issue, I think it would be resolved in a few days and the deadlock in parliament would end soon,” Sharma, who is also the Minister of Communications and Information Technology added.

Earlier in the day, the meeting of the National Assembly also got adjourned following obstruction by the opposition CPN-UML. (ANI)

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