July 13: A Member of Parliament has demanded probe into Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari’s political affiliation.

The lawmaker made such demand during the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday (July 13) after it came to light that Adhikari is a member of the CPN UML’s economic and planning department, the state-owned RSS reported.

Speaking at the HoR meeting, CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker Rekha Sharma argued that Adhikari’s appointment is against the provision that an individual associated with any party should not be appointed the governor of the central bank. Sharma argued that his appointment is in contravention with the existing laws as well as the bank's act and regulations.    

She has demanded an investigation in this connection and action against both sides- the side making the appointment and the side who got appointed.   

Adhikari was appointed as the governor of NRB by the erstwhile government led by KP Sharma Oli. 

According to RSS, the UML's latest intra-party directive states that M Adhikari (Khotang) has been appointed as the member of the CPN (UML) economic and planning department. 

New Business Age couldn’t independently verify whether M Adhikari of the main opposition party is the NRB Governor. However, according to media reports, social media users suspect it is the same person as the address mentioned in the UML list reportedly matches with that of Governor Adhikari.

Adhikari has reportedly denied the allegation on social media.

It may be noted that the central bank’s governor had a fallout with the then Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, who happens to be from the Maoist party.

Sharma had made a failed attempt to sack the governor in April  accusing him of failing to accomplish his responsibilities as the governor of the central bank.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 7 had decided to investigative into the alleged role of Governor Adhikari in leaking sensitive information of NRB, leading to his suspension.

However, the Supreme Court issued a stay order against the government’s decision to suspend the governor.

On the other hand, disgraced finance minister Sharma resigned from his post in connection to a different issue involving the entry of unauthorized people at the ministry on the eve of budget announcement.