(Excerpts from interview with Laxman Ghimire, member of the central committee of the Nepali Congress)



Q At a press conference yesterday, Khum Bahadur Khadka and Bijay Kumar Gachhedar stated that corruption was on the rise, the government is a failure and that they welcomed Deuba's candidature.What have you to say to this?

A There are many "jis" in this country like Deubaji, Khadkaji, Gachhedarji, and so on. Their talking of corruption is like reflecting what they see in the mirror. This is what the party grassroots activists think also. The point to be noted is that all these irregularities and corruption started at a time when Deuba was leader of the united government in 1995.

Q Who can remove corruption from the country?

A At the present moment we cannot say that there is no corruption. To remove corruption, all Nepali ongress members have to participate actively. To end this corruption, party workers who are not party to this have to take a special interest and act. People who till yesterday went around in worn-out slippers and torn clothes now have many houses in the capital. They own Pajeros, scores of trucks and buses and have bank accounts in foreign countries. When these very people talk of removing corruption, it sounds very comical and is a joke.

Q Why hasn't the central committee been able to take action against the Mafia and corrupt people in the NC?

A A code of conduct is being prepared by the central committee. In the forthcoming convention, the Mafia will be taken care of properly. Some issues will have to be handled legally and some politically.