KATHMANDU: The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) has demanded a response from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli regarding allegations that Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta was involved in a bribery deal to block employee transfers and secure appointments.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Sunday, Maoist Centre lawmaker Durga Rai referred to media reports about the leak of an audio clip exposing the minister’s bribery deal.

“Will the government remain silent while such bribery deals are broadcast publicly?” she questioned. “When such corruption is revealed, should the government not take action? Ministers like this have no sense of morality.”

Rai urged Prime Minister Oli to answer the Parliament about the issue, saying his usual statement that he neither takes nor allows others to take bribes is insufficient.