KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has asked the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to investigate into the distribution of cash to journalists by Health Minister Rajendra Mahato.
Mahato has been accused of distributing greeting cards to journalists with cash ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 on October 1 at his official residence in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Issuing a press statement on Monday, FNJ has expressed concerns over distribution of cash to journalists.[break]
“This act of Health Minister Mahato is not only an abuse of his authority but also a direct violation of Nepal´s Interim Constitution and law. FNJ takes this incident as an act of misusing state funds while in power and authority as well as an attempt to corrupt journalists and media houses by making them his well wishers,” reads the press statement.
Meanwhile, Minister Mahato has dismissed the allegation stating that someone has hatched the conspiracy against him. “I think someone might have hatched the conspiracy to defame me. I am saddened by such news,” Mahato told Republica.
He said that he had only given greeting cards to his well-wishers including journalists.
Likewise, Mahato´s Personal Secretary Upendra Mahato termed the news about distribution of cash by the Health Minister a ´grand design´.
“A few days ago, Journalist Ramji Dahal had come to the Health Ministry seeking the budget for a project but it was not possible to do so by breaching the law. A journalist informed me today (Monday) that the news is the byproduct as Dahal failed to make his interest fulfilled,” Upendra added.
He said that there was no cash with the greeting cards as claimed by Deepak Dahal, Ramji´s brother. “After several attempts, Deepak got the chance to meet the Health Minister. I gave the greeting cards to him without any cash. He wrote such news after his brothers failed to make his demands met,” said Upendra.
Ramji Dahal refutes accusations
Meanwhile, journalist Ramji Dahal refuted the accusation by Upendra Mahato.
"I am neither affiliated to any NGO nor I have any project," he said. "I am only doing journalism."
"I have not visited Health Ministry for last three years," Dahal said. "I don´t know Rajendra Mahato and his personal assistant personally."
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