A day after formally resuming leadership of the party following a six-month gap, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane met Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire on Tuesday, requesting his reinstatement as lawmaker. The Speaker, however, responded that such reinstatement was not possible.

“No one is above the law. I have acted in strict adherence to legal provisions,” Ghimire said in response to Lamichhane, according to Shekhar Adhikari, the Speaker’s press adviser.

Lamichhane was held from his party office in Banasthali, Kathmandu, on October 18 last year. He was subsequently handed over to the Kaski District Police in connection with a cooperatives fraud case.

On December 23, the Kaski District Government Attorney’s Office filed cases against Lamichhane and 30 other individuals at the District Court concerning the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case. The House suspended Lamichhane’s position as lawmaker the very next day.

Shortly after his suspension, RSP lawmakers had met the Speaker, requesting reinstatement, but their appeal then was also denied.

A case was registered against him in the Kaski District Court for money laundering, cooperatives fraud, and organised crime. Kaski Police had also written to the House Secretariat, recommending the suspension of Lamichhane’s parliamentary position.

According to Clause 27 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2008 (amended), Lamichhane was automatically suspended. According to the law, if an official or employee of an established organisation or a public servant is in detention, their position will be automatically suspended.

During the Tuesday meeting with Speaker Ghimire, Lamichhane argued that the money laundering charges against him are politically motivated. He reminded the Speaker that a lawmaker can only be suspended if they are in custody for trial.

In response, Speaker Ghimire reiterated that he only had done his duty, following the legal provision. Acknowledging concerns that the practice of filing money laundering charges and suspending lawmakers could be misused, Ghimire maintained that he had acted strictly within legal boundaries.

Lamichhane warned that such a tactic could be used against anyone, including members of the ruling party, to suppress internal dissent. He also suggested that the Speaker initiate discussions with political parties on the matter.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Lamichhane voiced his concerns. “If the trend of suspending lawmakers through money laundering charges continues, it could impact the government’s stability,” he said. Speaker Ghimire had also expressed his concerns over the issue, Lamichhane added.

Lamichhane, a former home minister, is accused of misusing cooperatives funds in five districts. Separate cases were registered against him in four district courts. However, he is yet to be presented to the Parsa District Court.

Almost two months after Lamichhane appeared before the Chitwan District Court on February 5, the case against him in Parsa district has not progressed.

Referring to this issue, while resuming his party duties on Monday, Lamichhane claimed that the government had not filed a case against him in the Parsa court, in a deliberate attempt to keep him in check. Cases against him had been filed by government attorneys in Pokhara, Rupandehi, Kathmandu, and Chitwan district courts. He was released on bail by all four courts.

The party also questioned the government’s intention of not producing Lamichhane in the Parsa court.

The RSP had planned to hold its first general convention from 8 to 10 May. However, a party decision on March 27 said that the convention would not take place as scheduled due to the failure to elect lower committees.

Despite this, upon returning to the party office on Monday, Lamichhane instructed the party committee to proceed with the convention on the planned date.

The party has yet to complete even the basic preparations for the general convention. To date, it has conducted conventions in only 5 out of 753 municipalities.

“Tell me what needs to be done. Submit a written report within 15 days detailing what has not been accomplished and what needs to be done. I am ready to dedicate myself to the party and travel hundreds of kilometres if necessary,” Lamichhane was quoted as telling the meeting by acting party spokesperson Manish Jha.

Lamichhane added that the RSP remains committed to holding its first ever national convention as announced during the party’s national assembly held in September last year.

“In the March 27 meeting, we discussed the possibility of holding the general convention on the planned date. We will now hold the convention on schedule,” said Jha.