A Nepalese member of the House disrobes over the “refugee scam” controversy
Based on the testimonies of over 400 victims, the “refugee scam” is said to involve the wards of powerful politicians, including at least two cabinet members who are currently affiliated with the K P Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist, who allegedly accepted large sums of money to send Nepalese citizens to the US under the guise of Bhutanese refugees.
The controversy surrounding the alleged trafficking of Nepalese nationals abroad as Bhutanese refugees, which has dominated headlines in the local media and resulted in several high-profile arrests, found its echo in the Nepalese House of Representatives with the opposition parties calling for an investigation into the claims.
Amaresh Kumar Singh, an Independent member, took off his shirt in protest after being refused the opportunity to speak. Speaker Devraj Ghimire urged him not to behave in a way that would jeopardize the respect and decorum of the House. According to the testimony of over 400 victims, the “refugee scam” involved the use of large sums of money to send Nepalese citizens to the US under the pretense of being Bhutanese refugees. At least two of the Cabinet ministers involved in the scheme are currently members of K P Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist. Additionally, media sources imply that a number of powerful politicians have benefited from the swindle.A discussion on the “refugee scam” was demanded by the opposition parties in Nepal’s Parliament, who on Monday interrupted the budget session. While PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal had promised outside the House that the problem would be thoroughly investigated, he lacked the same dedication within the House.