From bribes to check distribution: Nepali Congress turns a blind eye as Minister Khadka’s alleged corruption

KATHMANDU: Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has been embroiled in multiple controversies, yet the government, parliamentary committees, and his party, Nepali Congress, have remained passive spectators.

Khadka has faced allegations of distributing checks to disqualify competing firms and favoring his preferred company for the 106 MW Jagadulla Hydropower Project’s construction contract. Despite these accusations, no action has been taken, and silence prevails across all levels.

Nepali Congress Fails to Act on Khadka’s Actions

Despite Minister Khadka’s repeated controversial activities tarnishing the party’s reputation, Nepali Congress has not taken any steps to hold him accountable. On Thursday morning, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba called a meeting at his residence in Budhanilkantha, where he requested performance reports from ministers representing the party in the government.

At the meeting, Khadka presented the issuance of the energy roadmap as an accomplishment and complained about being unfairly targeted in the media. According to Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire, Khadka claimed that his actions, including the contracting process, were all legal and transparent.

However, Deuba, along with other party officials, refrained from commenting on Khadka’s alleged misconduct. This inaction has allowed Khadka to continue his activities without any internal party scrutiny.

Controversies Surrounding Minister Khadka

Khadka has been criticized for several issues since assuming the leadership of the Energy Ministry, including:
– Allegedly manipulating contract processes.
– Accepting bribes for staff transfers.
– Failing to collect dues from dedicated and trunk lines.
– Publicly targeting Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
– Opening an office at NEA premises, which drew widespread ridicule.

These controversies have not only subjected Khadka to public criticism but also damaged Nepali Congress’s image for sheltering a controversial figure in a ministerial position.

Parliamentary Committees’ Inaction

In addition to the party’s silence, parliamentary committees have failed to address Khadka’s questionable actions. Complaints against him, including allegations of distributing checks to influence the Jagadulla Hydropower Project contract, have been filed with the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives. However, the committee, chaired by former State Minister for Energy Deepak Bahadur Singh of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, has yet to summon Khadka for a discussion.

Singh stated that while discussions on the hydropower bill are ongoing, the committee plans to address the complaints against Khadka after completing work on the bill.

Other Oversight Committees Also Remain Silent

The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, as well as the Public Accounts Committee, have the authority to summon Minister Khadka without awaiting formal complaints. However, both have ignored allegations against him, including those raised a year ago. The committees’ inaction has been attributed to their leadership by ruling coalition MPs—Ram Hari Khatiwada of Nepali Congress and Rishikesh Pokharel of CPN-UML—who appear reluctant to confront Khadka.

Opposition Pressure Fails to Spur Action

Opposition lawmakers have pressured the Public Accounts Committee to convene a meeting to discuss the allegations against Khadka. However, chairman Pokharel has delayed action, citing personal reasons and avoiding accountability.

Prime Minister Fails to Intervene

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who frequently claims a zero-tolerance stance on corruption, has not taken any action despite being aware of Khadka’s misconduct. His failure to address the issue has further fueled public criticism of the government’s integrity.