President Paudel Says Democracy’s Benefits Cannot Reach Citizens’ Doorsteps Without Tackling Corruption

Kathmandu — President Ramchandra Paudel warned that without curbing corruption and ensuring good governance and transparency, the benefits of democracy would never make it to the doorsteps of ordinary citizens.

Addressing a programme marking the 35th anniversary of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Paudel described corruption control as an essential condition for development and prosperity. He said abuse of authority inflicts a serious blow not only to legal norms but also to public trust and future aspirations, weakening the bond between the state and its people.

The president stressed that no individual should be shielded from legal accountability on the basis of position or power, and urged the commission to investigate all forms of corruption impartially. He said combating corruption requires strong political commitment as well as collective effort to promote integrity, ethics, transparency and accountability in public life.