POKHARA, March 1: Pokhara has become the epicenter of cooperative scandals, with cases of embezzlement reported in several cooperatives, including Surya Darshan, Image, Bardali, Prime, Mitramilan, Pokhara Saving & Credit, and Sangharshil Saving & Credit. In Surya Darshan alone, embezzlement of Rs 1.51 billion has been alleged.
Cases have already been filed against high-profile figures, including Rabi Lamichhane, Gitendra Bahadur Rai (GB), former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, Leela Pachai, and Ram Prasad Khanal. The accusations are currently under judicial review.
Victims have formed the Cooperative Victims Struggle Committee in Pokhara, demanding the return of their savings and pursuing the matter through government agencies and legal channels, though they say justice has been slow.
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At a discussion on “Who Cooperative Victims Will Vote for and Why?” held on Saturday in Pokhara, participants declared that they will not vote for candidates implicated in cooperative scams. Kiran Shrestha, coordinator of the Cooperative Victims Struggle Committee, said, “We will not vote for those who have stolen our hard-earned money. We will support parties or candidates who provide written commitments to return the funds.” He added that voter confidence cannot be restored until those involved are held accountable and savings are returned.
Dhan Kumari Gurung, a resident of Annapurna Rural Municipality now living in Pokhara, said, “How can we vote for someone who stole our money? The new generation looted the cooperatives, and the old generation looted the country.”
Similarly, victim Prem Bahadur Rana expressed disillusionment with the election process, questioning how candidates accused of scams can still seek votes from victims.
Gopi Dahal, another victim, emphasized the need for a nationwide campaign against voting for cooperative fraudsters. “We are not boycotting the election; we just won’t vote for the guilty,” he said.
The cooperative scandals appear to be directly affecting the political environment in Pokhara. While some voters are disillusioned, others are using their vote as leverage. How decisive the cooperative victims’ votes will be remains to be seen, but it is clear that economic grievances are a top priority for these voters this election cycle.
