Som Lal Subedi flayed for joining ADB

Kathmandu, July 13

Opposition lawmakers today severely criticised former chief secretary Som Lal Subedi for accepting the job offered by the Asian Development Bank. They said Subedi had tarnished the country’s image by accepting a joint secretary-level position at the ADB.

Speaking at today’s meeting of the Parliament, CPN-UML lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari said the government too had committed a serious mistake by allowing Subedi to take up the ADB job. “Is there any provision in the constitution that authorises the government to create two posts of chief secretaries?”  Bhandari asked. He said the government as well as Subedi had violated the law and misused power.

“Our party wants the government to withdraw its decision that allowed Subedi to accept the ADB job without resigning from his post,” said Bhandari. He also asked the prime minister and other ministers to clarify the House regarding the issue. The government has transferred Chief Secretary Subedi to reserve pool.

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party lawmaker Prem Suwal said the government should have expelled Subedi immediately after he accepted the ADB job offer. He said Subedi was not patriotic and demanded clarification from the prime minister regarding the issue.

NC lawmaker Arzu Rana Deuba drew the House’s attention to growing incidents of violence against women in recent days. Lawmaker Rekha Sharma, Sushila Nepal, Rukmani Chaudhary also drew the government’s attention to growing incidents of violence against women and demanded punishment for the culprits.

NC lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada drew the House’s attention to the Election Commission’s decision to update voter list only from its district offices. He asked the government and the EC to make arrangements for updating voter list from all nearby election offices as in the past.

CPN-MC lawmaker Amanlal Modi urged the government to take action against Universal medical Collage, Bhairahawa, and National Medical College, Birgunj, which refused to admit students on merit basis.

The House meeting also endorsed the bill on raising domestic debt tabled by Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki with majority. The next meeting of the House is scheduled for 1:00pm on July 20.