Cooperatives' fund embezzlement: Top leaders to meet to finalise TOR today
KATHMANDU: Top leaders of the main political parties are set to meet today to finalise the terms of reference (ToR) for the parliamentary probe committee, which is to be formed to investigate the embezzlement of cooperative funds.
The top leaders are expected to finalise the ToR, as a meeting of the taskforce held on Saturday could not reach a conclusion.
The meeting, which was held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, on Saturday, aimed to reach a consensus on the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the misappropriation and embezzlement of cooperative funds.
The Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri, on Saturday briefly informed the media, “We have reached a crucial point to resolve the current stalemate. We are presenting the discussions held in the taskforce meeting to the top leaders in a comprehensive manner. Today’s taskforce meeting was crucial in reaching an agreeable point on this contentious issue.”
According to Minister Giri, representatives of the main opposition, the Nepali Congress, in the taskforce meeting reiterated their demand to clearly mention the names of certain individuals and office-bearers while forming the probe committee on cooperative irregularities. “We are nearing a consensus. There is no need to mention the names of the individuals involved in the companies and cooperative societies. Those involved in irregularities will be identified after the investigation focuses on the problematic cooperatives and companies,” he said.
It was stated in the meeting that the inquiry committee will focus on the companies and cooperative societies. “The cooperative funds have been embezzled, which is undoubtedly unlawful. Let’s mention the names of the companies and cooperatives from where people’s deposited funds were siphoned off. Let’s conduct the probe with such cooperatives at the centre. The meeting discussed forming a probe committee with these terms of reference,” the minister briefed.
An agreement was reached a week ago to form an inquiry committee after the main opposition, the Nepali Congress, disrupted the House proceedings, demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the embezzlement of cooperative funds.
Despite the agreement, the deadlock continues as the committee’s mandate has not been finalised. Shortly after the task force meeting, the top leaders of the major parties met again to resolve the deadlock in parliament.
The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Chairperson of the CPN (UML), KP Sharma Oli, the Vice-President of the Nepali Congress, Purna Bahadur Khadka, among others.
READ ALSO:
-1731840656.jpeg)
