Kathmandu – Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, has always been in the limelight with some kind of controversy and gossip from his life incidents. After joining politics, he has gained height and has been elected as a Member of Parliament twice from the same area. After facing a hard time due to his citizenship’s legal issues, he has been dragged into another controversy. But this time Rabi Lamichhane is quiet on this matter; rather, he is giving some kind of ready-made answer to divert the real case.
This time Rabi Lamichhane’s name is attached to a co-operative’s case, and his name is attached due to his former business partner Gitendra Babu Rai (GB Rai). Surya Darshan Savings and Credit Cooperative Ltd. has not returned the depositors’ money for a few years, and the money from the cooperative has been misused by GB Rai, who was the former chairman of that cooperative. And Rabi Lamichhane’s name is attached in this case, as GB Rai and Rabi Lamichhane were business partners, and they have had a good relationship till last year.
GB Rai has invested around 70 crore in Rabi Lamichhane’s vision and trust and opened Galaxy 4K Television. GB Rai gave a 15 percent share to Rabi Lamichhane without any investment. When Rabi was on the Galaxy 4K TV, everything was going well, but when Rabi switched his profession and joined politics as a full-time politician, the scenario changed. GB Rai was not a media person, nor did he have any knowledge of running media. He was ready to invest more than 50 crore by trusting Rabi Lamichhane and his team. And when Rabi Lamichhane left the Galaxy 4K TV, GB Rai’s investment in the TV came into risk, which resulted in closing the Galaxy TV within two years.
Rabi Lamichhane transferred his share while he left Galaxy TV and joined politics full-time. Legally, Rabi Lamichhane is right to the point, as when he was involved in Galaxy TV, everything was going well. But when he left the TV, GB Rai couldn’t run the television, due to which the channel was shut down, and the staff from the channel have not received their salaries since few months. According to a former management team of Galaxy TV, the organization had to pay around 3 crore plus as a salary to their staffs. And the chairman, GB Rai, is out of contact after an arrest warrant was issued in his name.
Now let’s analyze the soft connection of Rabi Lamichhane with this case and how he is not showing morality towards those thousands of depositors at Surya Darshan Savings and Credit Cooperative Ltd. Let’s make a few things clear before analyzing this situation.
1. Rabi Lamichhane is not a member of the cooperative, nor has he misused the amount of that cooperative.
2. Rabi Lamichhane is not legally involved in misusing the depositor’s money from the cooperative.
3. The above-mentioned points are clarified by Rabi Lamichhane, and he has mentioned that he is ready to get imprisoned if he is found guilty in this case.
Rabi Lamichhane And GB Rai’s Friendship
Ok, now let’s come to the point. GB Rai has invested in Galaxy TV by taking a loan from the cooperative, which is against the law. GB Rai was the chairman of that cooperative. If we believe that Rabi Lamichhane had no idea from where GB Rai has brought money, being a major shareholder of Galaxy TV, he has known GB Rai and his background well. If not, then fine (let’s believe him). GB Rai took a loan from that cooperative and invested more than Rs 50 crore in Galaxy TV. The cooperative’s depositors are crying and seeking justice as their money was misused by GB Rai. GB Rai has violated the law and used depositor money. One of the depositors has left this world due to the tension.
Now let’s talk about the morality of Rabi Lamichhane in this case. Ok, I am confused. Should I expect morality from Nepali politicians or not? If Rabi Lamichhane is also categorized among Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Kp Sharma Oli, then expecting morality from him is a waste of time, and this full article is also a waste of time and energy. But the hope of Nepali citizens in Rabi Lamichhane is so high that I am forced to expect some morality at this point.
Till today, Rabi Lamichhane has been giving ready-made answers like other politicians. He has been saying that he is with the victims of those cooperatives, but he has not spoken about his former business partner, GB Rai. Nor has he taken any initiative to find GB Rai, as they had a good relationship until last year. Why is Rabi Lamichhane not forcing the government to find GB Rai as soon as possible? Rabi Lamichhane is not trying to address the Galaxy TV’s staff’s problem and find justice for them, as the Galaxy 4K was started on the vision of Rabi Lamichhane.
I have mentioned a few points about how Rabi Lamichhane can show his morality in this case and win the hearts of citizens.
1. Rabi Lamichhane is right legally, but morally, GB Rai was his business partner, and thousands of victims are on the road due to his partner. And GB Rai didn’t use the money from the cooperative for himself; rather, he invested in the Galaxy 4K TV on the vision of Rabi Lamichhane. So it’s Rabi’s moral responsibility to stand with those victims and find GB Rai and his team, who are behind this fraud.
2. Rabi Lamichhane should take a strong stand and speak publicly to find GB Rai. He should create pressure on the government to find GB Rai and his team and settle the matter. He has not yet met the Prime Minister or the Minister of Home Affairs to ask to find GB Rai. Why is he not willing to find GB Rai?
3. Rabi Lamichhane should take the initiative to find GB Rai, sell Galaxy TV property, and pay back the cooperatives so that depositors get their money back. Although he is not in a position, he can stand with the victims and assist them in this case. As we know, Nepal’s government won’t work effectively if there is no pressure from citizens. And Rabi Lamichhane could create huge pressure, but why is he quiet?
It’s ok if Rabi Lamichhane fails to speak and creates pressure, as he is legally right as per his statements. And GB Rai may not be totally wrong, so he hasn’t spoken about him, as he knows him well as his former business partner. But he can assist by showing morality, which would help his friend GB Rai get clean chit as well as victims will also get their money back.
If Rabi Lamichhane’s aim is to be Prime Minister of the nation, then he can stay quiet on this matter. But he can only be the prime minister of a coalition government. If he is aiming to become Prime Minister for five years, then it is time to show morality. Nepali citizens want politicians who have morals. Best of luck Rabi Lamichhane.
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