Rajendra Pandey objects to narrative branding all old leaders as corrupt

Nepal Communist Party leader Rajendra Pandey has objected to attempts to build a narrative that all leaders of old political parties were corrupt. He expressed this view on Monday in Kathmandu at the launch of Mahendra Prakash Shivakoti's books 'Desh Bikasko Prastawana' and 'Rajnitik Chetana'.

Pandey said it was not right to construct a narrative that all old leaders and party workers were wrongdoers. The former chief minister noted that he had been a continuous member of parliament from 1991 to 2022 and claimed he was never involved in corrupt activities.

Pandey also questioned the tendency of viewing someone as bad while in an old party but good after joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party. As an example, he cited RSP Vice-Chairman and Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, recalling that Wagle had been vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission while in Congress, and asked whether it was fair to call him bad then and good now.