Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 28:

Arguing that the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) has failed in its first attempt, some leaders acquitted by the Commission yesterday demanded “immediate dissolution” of the Commission. Former minister Yuvaraj Gyawali, who was acquitted yesterday by the RCCC demanded immediate dissolution of the “unconstitutional” body when Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) existed. He said this while speaking at an interaction organised at the Reporters’ Club today. “It was move to defame political leaders and the RCCC has failed in its very first attempt,” he said. Former minister Hom Nath Dahal challenged the RCCC to “file case against the bank defaulters and some senior ministers who are getting hefty amount as house rent as per the cabinet decision”.

Labelling the RCCC as prejudiced, Dahal said that the Commission has been targeting only those who have opposed to the February 1 Royal move.

Dr Sunder Mani Dixit, a member of the civic society, came down heavily on the leaders for being double standard. He labelled the decision to acquit former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and others in the case concerning the distribution of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund (PMRF) ‘ridiculous’. “How can the RCCC acquit them when they have misused the people’s funds by distributing it to their party cadres?”

Dixit also asked Deuba and others as how could they accept the RCCC’s verdict and “shake hands” with its officials when they have been labelling it as “unconstitutional”. “How will you react if you are sent to jail by the commission in other cases?” he queried.