Main opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has raised questions about lack of investigation in audio tape of former minister Gokul Baskota.
Speaking during the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Sunday, NC President Deuba questioned the government's intention in not investigating the case. He pointed that Baskota can be clearly heard asking 'how much will we get' in the audio tape and questioned who did Baskota mean by we.
Deuba also blasted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for defending Baskota questioning authenticity of the audio tape instead of initiating investigation.
Baskota resigned as Communication and Information Technology minister on February 20 after the audio tape purporting him to be bargaining for commission in procurement of security printing press.
PM Oli on Thursday had defended his protégé Baskota. Addressing a training program for CPN cadres of Bagmati province in Kathmandu on Thursday, he clarified that Baskota has resigned not because he was involved in corruption but because questions were raised about him.
"An idiot has made audio public in a tape episode. There is no evidence," Oli said. "Gokul Baskota has said he resigned because questions were raised about me. He has said the audio is not his. Its authenticity has not been established. The Swiss Embassy has also said the person is not the agent."
He questioned how can a Swiss agent be involved when there is direct communication with the German and French governments about security printing press. "I am not trying to defend anyone. Gokul Baskota will be punished if he is guilty. The one lying will be punished if not."
Bakota, meanwhile, has lodged a defamation suit with the Kathmandu District Court through a representative on Friday making Bijay Prakash Mishra, who is heard bargaining with him about commission in the audio tape, the defendant.
"I want to inform everyone that I have lodged a case through a representative demanding justice with the District Court, Kathmandu against false allegations and defamation against me," Baskota tweeted on Friday.
