Opposition questions Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Shah’s ethics

Dhangadhi: The opposition party in Sudurpaschim Province has intensified its obstruction of the provincial assembly, raising ethical concerns about Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah.

Opposition leaders have questioned Chief Minister Shah’s involvement in a controversial leaked audio related to alleged financial transactions involving former Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment Laxman Kishore Chaudhary. The audio clip, linked to the Sustainable Forest Management Bill, led to Chaudhary’s resignation on Saturday at the directive of Chief Minister Shah.

Speaking in the provincial assembly, opposition members demanded clarity on Shah’s stance, arguing that the minister’s resignation alone is not sufficient to address the issue of financial irregularities. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) provincial assembly member Khema Devi Bista, speaking on behalf of the opposition, stated:

“The minister has resigned on moral grounds, which is commendable, but what action will the Chief Minister take?”

Additionally, the opposition has demanded a government response regarding the recent foreign visit of former Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal and other provincial assembly members. Six members, including Rawal, visited Uttarakhand, India, and met the Chief Minister there, prompting concerns over whether the trip was approved by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Furthermore, the opposition has raised concerns about an unbalanced allocation of Rs 5 billion in the provincial budget, urging the government to reassess and address the issue.

The opposition has been disrupting provincial assembly proceedings in recent times, citing issues such as good governance, budget mismanagement, illegal service facilities, and political appointments. Bista accused the provincial government of ignoring repeated demands for accountability on these critical matters.