Breaking his silence weeks after being accused of hobnobbing with an absconding Maoist PLA commander on police wanted-list for murder of a Kathmandu businessman, Ram Hari Shrestha, Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Badal denied such reports as false and baseless.

Answering questions posed to him by Nepali Congress lawmakers who had sought his and Home Minister’s explanation regarding the case at the Constituent Assembly meeting held in the capacity of Legislative Assembly Sunday, Minister Thapa denied news reports that he met Kali Bahadur Kham aka Bibidh, who is accused of murdering former Maoist sympathiser and restaurateur Ramhari Shrestha of Koteshwor, while he was in Chitwan on October 20 to visit his constituency in Chitwan and said that he never met the man.

Thapa, who is also a senior Maoist leader, said that he is aware of the dignity of his ministerial position and responsibilities, hinting that he would not let it be tainted by meeting a convicted man on whom his party has also taken action upon.

“The government is committed towards establishing the rule of law,” he said, and referring to Kham’s case promised that “action would be taken against the guilty and the compensation would be given to the victim”.

Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam was to answer the queries of lawmakers but could not attend the session as he was outside the valley. nepalnews.com ag Nov 09 08