OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

‘I Had Collected Money To Buy Off MPs In 1995 When UML Government Was In Trouble’

— Keshav Sthapit

Mayor of Kathmandu Municipal Corporation (KMC) KESHAV STHAPIT has had a long association with CPN-UML before he joined the breakaway CPN-ML. Sthapit was visibly enraged after his former party bosses last week openly accused him of indulging in corruption. Vehemently denying the allegations, Sthapit recently hit back at the UML leaders charging them of corruption. Excerpts of his interview:

How do you find the accusations of corruption against you levelled by CPN-UML leaders?
It is an eyewash. It is just a plot by UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Pradeep Nepal and company to secure their own huge property accumulated through illegal means. Before accusing me, they must publish their own property and how they accumulated it.

Then, what about the allegations?
I had collected money to buy off the members of parliament in 1995 when our (read UML) government was in trouble. I handed over 30 million rupees to General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. If Nepal has the guts, he should declare where the money has been spent. Every one knows how corrupt UML leaders are. From Bidya Bhandari to Pradeep Nepal, all of them have amassed huge amount of money.

What about you?
Look, Kathmandu is a very small city and it is not difficult to find out anybody's position. If they can find proofs about my involvement in corruption, I am ready to face any kind of trial. Can Madhav Kumar Nepal and Pradeep Nepal do the same?

What steps will you take now?
I will go to the court and file case of defamation against all CPN-UML leaders. If they repeat such acts, I will publish all the documents and expose UML leaders.

Do you have any evidence against Madhav Kumar Nepal and Pradeep Nepal?
I have many evidences that can expose them. I can prove all the sources of money they have accumulated in these past few years? Every one knows about the past financial position of Madhav Kumar Nepal, Pradeep Nepal, Ishwor Pokharel, K.P. Sharma Oli and Bidya Bhandari. How did they become so rich overnight?

What about you, again?
I do not that have any hesitation to claim that everyone can see what I was and what I am. If someone proves my wrong-doings, I am ready to face any kind of punishment. Do UML leaders have such guts? Reality about the corrupt leaders who brought thousands of hired workers to declare false allegations will come out soon.

How do you see your past as a UML worker?
I regret it. Now I am free to work for the people. If I were still a member of CPN-UML, I would still have to hand over certain amount of municipal budget to these corrupt person.

Bhattarai Still Lives In The Fool's Paradise

Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai still seems to be harboring the dream to head the government again as he recently expressed his wish at a public meeting. Bhattarai accused some of his personal advisors for disseminating false reports about his health. He said he was a victim of conspiracy that proved him unable to walk.

Competition Of Corruption

There is a severe competition among CPN-UML and CPN-ML leaders to prove who is more corrupt. As soon as CPN-UML leaders accused leaders of ML about their involvement in corruption, the war of words has begun between CPN-UML leader Pradeep Nepal and CPN-ML leader Bam Dev Gautam. One of the advantages of this comrades' duel for the people is that they will now know about some of their sinister dealings as each one is out to expose the other.

Chameli Follows Caravan

Nepalese film makers are slowly but certainly shifting away from their traditional style of copying foreign film stories. After the success of Caravan, it is now the turn of Chameli to receive rave reviews for portraying real life situations. Produced by Rabi Baral, the film is based on the lives of Nepalese girls sold in Indian brothels. If initial reviews are anything to go by, the film is a heart-tugging portrayal of the plights of the girls. The film has hit the theaters of Kathmandu. How people will respond to the works by Baral, a son of the country's noted pediatrician Dr. Manindra Ranjan Baral, remains to be seen.

Deuba's Mea Culpa

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is nowadays in a confessing mood. He is telling what he did during his tenure as Prime Minister and why he did it. Deuba is notoriously remembered for flying out his ministers in a fake case to help his government survive back in 1996. Deuba even asked other leaders to follow the suit. In a recent meeting of human rights activists, Deuba even urged main opposition party leader to follow the path taken by him.