Pokhara, March 10

Senior Nepali Congress leader Ramchandra Paudel today accused the KP Sharma Oli-led government of institutionalising corruption in the country.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepali Congress, Kaski, in Pokhara, Paudel alleged that ministers and senior ruling party leaders had embezzled billions of rupees from various scams including the 33 kg gold smuggling racket, Ncell tax evasion, Budhigandaki hydel power and wide-body aircraft purchase deal, among others.

Paudel accused PM Oli of influencing the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority to dismiss corruption cases worth billions of rupees. He warned that his party would have to take the corruption case to the people and the street.

Saying corruption, inflation and violence had escalated in the country, Paudel said that his party would not stay mum. “The NC has no choice but to unite to expose the government’s wrongdoings to the people and win people’s hearts and minds,” he added.