KATHMANDU, Sept 26: Lawmakers have criticized Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for reportedly claiming to be fixing the case of investigation against the Maoist leader with the anti graft body, speaking in the parliament on Sunday. 

Lawmakers from the CPN-UML and ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC) raised questions over what is being reported in the media and demanded that Dahal explain his statement before Parliament.

Dahal had reportedly assured his party leaders during a CPN (Maoist Center) meeting last week that he had talked to the Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the latter had assured him of not pursuing the case against Maoist leaders. 

Dahal made such statement to calm down his party leaders after the anti-graft body announced through a press meet a few weeks ago that it would summon Maoist leaders over complaints related to corruption at Maoist cantonments. 

NC lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada demanded that Dahal inform the Parliament about the deal he has reached with the CIAA chief. “The prime minister's claim reported in the media is serious. If he has already settled the issue with the CIAA, he should provide the details to the Parliament,” said Khatiwada. 

Khatiwada also criticized the CIAA's dillydallying on the corruption case against All Nepal Football Association officials. 

Likewise, CPN-UML lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari questioned the fairness of the CIAA. “If cases against the prime minister's party can be settled without investigating or prosecuting the culprits, how can the public trust the anti-graft body?” asked Bhandari. “Why should a corruption case be filed against anybody in the country?”  

Bhandari also sought government's answer over whether or not the file related to the CIAA Chief Lokman Singh Karki's appointment was missing. 

CPN-UML lawmaker Pashupati Chaulagain said, “The prime minister's statement has contributed to embolden the corrupt people in the country,” said Chaulagain. 

CPN (Marxist Leninist) General Secretary CP Mainali and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party lawmaker Prem Suwal demanded that the government inform the House about the agreement inked with India during the visit of Prime Minister Dahal.

 
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