Kathmandu, April 30

Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair KP Sharma Oli today defended allegations against his party’s General Secretary Bishnu Paudel in Lalita Niwas land grab case.

Addressing the party’s parliamentary meeting in Baneshwor, PM Oli said Paudel had bought eight anna land in Baluwatar in 2005 during ex-king Gyanendra's rule. “Our party was not in the power then. He had bought that land and got it registered in his son’s name without knowing that it was government land.” Oli also said that some people were trying to defame the party by spreading rumour that Paudel had encroached the government land by abusing power.

Oli said that the investigation carried out by his government revealed that the land in Baluwatar was illegally occupied by some individuals. Otherwise, the issue would have never come to surface. However, instead of thanking the government for laying bare the issue, some people are criticising it for the good work, he said.

The government has formed a probe committee under former secretary Sharada Prasad Thrital to investigate Lalita Niwas land grab case. “Investigation is under way and the truth will come out soon,” he added.

PM Oli said the government would also investigate the wide-body aircraft purchase deal. He tried to clarify that his government had not signed the deal to purchase the aircraft.

Talking about the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta in Kanchanpur, PM Oli said that the investigation into the case was under way. “Initially, the investigation did not go in the right direction due to unwanted pressure from political parties and organisations,” he said. Oli also claimed that the peace and security situation in the country had improved.

On a different note, Oli made it clear that the government would not revoke the ban on Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal. PM Oli said the government could not compromise on national security. “We are always open for talks, but the government will not tolerate any activities that disrupt social harmony and peace,” he said.

Oli also warned that the central government would not remain a mute spectator if any provincial governments tried to bypass it by undermining the rule of law in the country.

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