Koirala Questions NC Silence as Minister Accused of Bribery Stays in Office

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has expressed surprise and disappointment that a minister accused of corruption is still attending Cabinet meetings instead of being removed from office. He said the minister is staying close to the Prime Minister to protect his position.

Writing on Facebook on Tuesday, Dr. Koirala referred to Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Rajkumar Gupta, who has been linked to a bribery scandal through an audio recording. He claimed that middlemen are seen arriving early at the minister’s residence, bringing bags full of bribe money. Even though there is clear evidence against him, Dr. Koirala said, the minister continues to meet with the Prime Minister and sit in Cabinet meetings.

He also criticized his own party, the Nepali Congress, for staying silent instead of taking a stand. “The opposition is at least raising its voice in Parliament,” he said, “but we, as a coalition partner, are just standing by and watching.”

Dr. Koirala ended his post by expressing frustration over the current state of politics, saying, “So, this is how things are being run.”