KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has claimed that there was no financial transaction or improper act in the legal and political battle over the party’s legitimacy.

He made the announcement on social media on Thursday.

Inam Sapkota, who is said to be a middleman, claimed that his name was linked in the audio released while he was in police custody.

He said that he did not know where, who, why and when the audio was spoken. He said that all the facts should come out through an impartial investigation rather than going after the subject said in the audio.

Stating that the party had moved ahead for change without worrying about the outcome of the special general convention, he claimed that not a single one had done any financial transaction or unfair act in the political and legal battle for legitimacy.

Stating that he did not have to answer publicly about the audio clip related to Inam Sapkota, he said that now the question should be asked to the investigating agency and not to themselves.

He has claimed that ill-intentioned rumours have been spread against him and his party leadership.

He made it clear that the party and leadership were ready for all kinds of investigations.

He urged the media and stakeholders to make necessary inquiries into the matter related to Sapkota as he is in police custody and to monitor whether the investigation is impartial. He said that if there is an impartial investigation, milk and water will be separated.

Thapa said that after the audio was made public, he started meeting the party leaders out of fear and the publicity that he held a meeting at night is also wrong. He clarified that it is natural to meet and talk to the leaders of other political parties as the Congress-led government in Madhes Province has to take a vote of confidence within the next five to seven days.

He said that the government’s priorities should be the rehabilitation of those who have become homeless due to natural disasters, management of squatters, employment generation, investment promotion and improvement of the economy. He said that the government will support and cooperate in the right work but will question the wrong deeds and defend it if necessary.

On the issue of questions being raised on his morality and integrity, Thapa claimed that he was not on any weak moral ground.