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Kathmandu, Nepal, April 11, 2023: The leaked audio recording of conversation between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha and medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai has brought a big jolt in the party.
Responding to the audio recording that was made viral in social media since Sunday, not only the lawmakers of other parties but also its own have demanded prompt investigation over the leaked audio recording.
In the leaked audio, RSP lawmakers Shrestha can be heard asking Prasai to pay Rs25 or 20 million to pay president Lamichhane through his core team to become the health minister. Prasai is the owner of the Birtamode-based B & C Medical College and Teaching Hospital and former central committee member of the CPN UML.
It appears that Shrestha and Prasai had engaged in a phone conversation to discuss the same on January 15. However, the audio recording was leaked on Sunday. At that time seven party alliance including CPN UML, CPN Maoist Center, RSP and others were on the process to form a coalition government.
The RSP had picked Shrestha as lawmaker from indigenous nationalities category under proportional representation system. The party, however, has suspended Shrestha from both lawmaker and party membership so as to initiate investigation.
Withstanding the widespread criticism, the RSP has apologized in the case. Speaking in the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Monday, RSP’s chief whip of the parliamentary party, Santosh Pariyar, apologized for the problem caused to the dignity of the members of the HoR.
‘We would like to apologize for the problem caused to your honor through our member of the HoR,’ he said adding that they will not be disturbed by this incident.
Speaking in the HoR meeting, other lawmakers demanded investigation over the leaked audio recording even forming a parliamentary panel.
Nepali Congress Deputy Chairman and Member of Parliament Dhanraj Gurung demanded that the so-called core team of the RSP including its President Lamichhane have to be investigated by forming a parliamentary panel.
During the meeting, RSP’s HoR members Manish Jha also challenged his party president Lamichhane to confirm that money was taken to make him a minister.
Responding to the concerns of the HoR members, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha said that the audio tapes would be investigated. Speaking to the media persons at Chitwan on Monday, he assured of investigation about the audio tape.
RSP president Lamichhane has termed the leaked audio recording as a scandal to attack on the party ahead of the upcoming by-elections. Posting a status in social media, Lamichhane said that party would take proper decision after investigating about the scandal.
