Threat, bribery in jets deal: WikiLeaks

It's a deal mired in controversies. And recent release of US diplomatic cables by whistleblower website WikiLeaks adds more twists to the Nepal Airlines Corporation's two aircraft deal with Airbus. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Jan 5, 2011, 02:54:53 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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It's a deal mired in controversies. And recent release of US diplomatic cables by whistleblower website WikiLeaks adds more twists to the Nepal Airlines Corporation's two aircraft deal with Airbus.

Besides showing attempts made by the US embassy in Kathmandu to scuttle the deal and swing it in Boeing's favour, it reveals how a senior minister allegedly used threat and bribes as means to push it through.

The cable dated February 24, 2010 mentions how US officials were monitoring the deal with Nepal's national carrier and getting information about those pushing for it.

"Powerful political forces, including Deputy Prime Minister BK Gachchhadar, strongly support the Airbus deal," the cable mentions. It mentions that Gachchhadar had offered bribe to a member of the public accounts committee (PAC) of Nepal parliament to support the deal with the European manufacturer.

The Madhesi leader allegedly threatened Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to pull his party - Madhesi Peoples' Rights Forum (Democratic) - out of the government if the Airbus deal didn't go through.

Embassy officials also raised the issue with Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and felt that the senior Nepali Congress leader, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, supported Airbus over Boeing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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