NC obstructs National Assembly demanding sacking of Minister Baskota

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: The main opposition party Nepali Congress has obstructed the meeting of the National Assembly on Thursday demanding the government immediately sack Minister of Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota.

Minster Baskota was dragged into controversy today after the leak of an audio clip, in which the minister is heard negotiating a share of commission from a local agent of Swiss company for awarding him the contract of the procurement of security printing press worth Rs 25 or 26 billion.

In the leaked audio the agent assures the minister of 70 percent share from the commission.

As soon as the meeting began, the opposition party’s NA member Jitendra Dev demanded the immediate sacking of minister and probe into the leaked tape. He also demanded the prime minister answer the NA about the controversial minister’s tape conversation.

The NC has already issued a press release demanding the government sack Minister Baskota at the earliest.

After Dev finished his statement, the NC lawmakers stood form their respective seats forcing the meeting to halt.

The next meeting has been scheduled for Feb 27.

Baskota, who is arriving in the capital from Sudurpaschim today, will meet Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, before addressing a press conference in the afternoon.