International   

Koirala reveals role in currency racket

Kathmandu: Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has revealed that he was involved in printing counterfeit Indian currency notes and masterminded the hijacking of a passenger plane during his political exile in India in the 1970s.

Mr. Koirala surprised many viewers of the privately-run Kantipur Television by revealing secrets of his life in exile way back in 1970s. Mr. Koirala said he was involved in printing counterfeit Indian currency notes during his political exile in India in 1970s for funding party activities.

The 84-year-old leader, who has been Nepal’s Prime Minister five times, said he had hired experts to manufacture the notes, and even deposited them in a bank. During his days in exile, he assisted his elder brother B.P. Koirala, legendary charismatic leader who became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal.

Many Nepalese are aware that he was the mastermind behind hijacking of the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines on its way to Biratnagar from Kathmandu in 1975, but nobody knew that Mr. Koirala was also involved in manufacturing counterfeit currency notes. The money was meant for funding the activities of Nepali Congress party many of whom were in India. In a candid talk, the Prime Minister said he had masterminded the hijacking the plane along with a team of party cadres. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistani lawyers end boycott, to return to court
5 killed in blast at mosque
U.K., Russia row over British Council
Dialogue only way out in Sri Lanka: Ban
Koirala reveals role in currency racket
Australia to help resolve whaling standoff
India in talks with U.S. for ballistic missile defence

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu