The day former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara was acquitted of rape attempt charge, ex-Deputy Speaker Shivamaya Tumbahamphe was appointed as the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs. It was a day of happy coincidence for both. Tumbahamphe had demanded that she be promoted to post of Speaker following the resignation of Mahara. The ruling NCP instructed her to resign and pave the way for the election to the new Speaker. But she dug her heels till the last moment and finally relented probably after she was assured of awarding the ministerial portfolio.
Even if the Kathmandu District Court gave a clean chit to Mahara, it is not easy for him to make up the moral and political losses he incurred after he was sent to judicial custody over the rape allegation.
Roshani Shahi, a woman employee working at the parliament secretariat, had first accused Mahara of committing sexual assault on her. But she later retracted her statement, saying that Mahara had not forced himself into her room, let alone the rape attempt. She even accused the police of forcing her to lodge complaint against Mahara. Her constant rebuttal of accusation laid the legal ground for the court to release him. The forensic tests of items collected from her room did not also match his fingerprints.
Many a person also believed a conspiracy theory that is making the rounds until now behind the arrest of Mahara. According to it, Mahara became the victim of grand ploy after he refused to table the document related to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US-funded grant, for its approval in the parliament.
Upon being released from Dillibazaar jail, he issued a statement that suggests he was imprisoned out of political vendetta. He said: “My first and high priority is to protect sovereignty of the country.” The ruling party leaders and lawmakers have been divided over the MCC with a bunch of them insisting that the House must not endorse it in current state.
On the other hand, Shahi has argued that Mahara was put behind bars not because of her but owing to the political conspiracy. One may question her intention and predicament. Both Mahara and Shahi have damaged their self-esteem in this nastier and dramatic episode. His party has kept mum about his position within it. He will resume his duty as lawmaker but what the role he is destined to perform in the party is not clear.  

By RRS