President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that effective steps are needed to combat corruption in the country.
Speaking at the 30th-anniversary function of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in Kathmandu, on Wednesday, she said that strict measures need to be taken as failure to check corruption would lead to misuse of state resources and ultimately weakening of the overall state machinery.
"Only by uprooting the disorder, irregularities and illegal deviance in the country we can minimise corruption holistically," she said. Support of all sectors, agencies and the overall society is essential to maintain zero tolerance towards corruption, in the context where the popularly elected government is working ahead to address the people's aspiration for development and prosperity.
The President also expressed the confidence that the Government of Nepal would be proactive in effective enforcement of the recommendations made in the public interest and concern by the CIAA through its publications. The CIAA should also become active in fully and effectively implementing the preventive, promotional and remedial strategies adopted by the state to check corruption and promote good governance.
No govt interference on CIAA: PM
Also speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made it clear that government would not interfere with works of the CIAA. The CIAA was established for fair investigation on corrupt public officials. The government, however, supports CIAA investigation, he added.
"Some people think CIAA does whatever government asks, but it is not", he said, adding that anyone involved in corruption would be brought to justice. In the CIAA activities, government does not interfere, he observed that CIAA activities were satisfactory.
He further said government is committed to curbing corruption. "Government has zero-tolerance to corruption," PM Oli said, urging the media to be responsible while reporting on corruption. The PM stressed the need for the media to bring news based on facts.
According to PM Oli, a clear legal arrangement was imperative to curb corruption. "Constitutional body should be responsible," he said, stressing that corruption is common enemy of all. Every person should be clean. All sides' cooperation is essential to punish the corrupt, he viewed.
Similarly, Chief Commissioner at CIAA Prem Kumar Rai said the vigilance would be heightened on irregularities at public offices.
