Deputy leader of the CPN-UML parliamentary party and former minister Padma Aryal has accused the government of resorting to politics of intimidation to suppress constructive criticism.
Claiming that Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle adopted an irresponsible tone while responding to questions regarding the budget, Aryal challenged the government to open files related to the opposition.
“You have threatened to open files. Other honorable members have also spoken about this in recent days, and I say again today: let the tea estate file be opened first,” Aryal said. “Whether it is Omni, widebody, or any other files linked to the opposition, they are in your hands. Through this House, I want to tell the government: open them. Whatever the truth is, let it come out.”
Aryal asserted that the opposition would not evade any investigation.
Although she referred to the “tea estate” issue, she did not explicitly state whether she was referring to the Giribandhu Tea Estate controversy, which has often been linked to former prime minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. Oli faces allegations related to policy decisions that allegedly facilitated the sale of land belonging to the Giribandhu Tea Estate.
Aryal argued that while the opposition has issued a challenge for an investigation, it is wrong to make accusations in Parliament solely for political maneuvering without any basis. She said that if these allegations are not proven through investigations, the government must take moral responsibility.
"If the accusations being leveled are not proven, and if investigations do not establish them as true, then – given that these are serious allegations that attack a person's dignity – will he have the courage to stand in the dock and take responsibility for that?" Aryal asked.
