Kathmandu : Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar on Friday issued a clarification regarding the letter written by her to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, dubbing the news carried by media outlets as a ‘planned move’ against her.

Saying that she wrote the letter out of compassion, the Deputy Speaker claimed that the news was being circulated one and a half years after the incident with the intention of dragging her into controversy.

“I tried to offer help out of compassion, and the attempt to create controversy nearly one and a half years after writing the letter seems to be a deliberate move against me. Those who know me well are aware of my nature. I may have many personal shortcomings, and there may be many who try to take advantage of that, but I have never engaged myself in unethical actions, nor will I ever do so,” said Rana.

After the letter she wrote to the embassy was leaked to the media, she has been widely criticised for allegedly abusing her position to help the people to get US visas that too for people who aren’t even related to the parliament secretariat. Also, officials said that her act of corresponding to a foreign embassy without informing the foreign ministry was objectionable.

“Coming into politics from an ordinary life, I have dedicated decades to earning a reputation and serving in public life. I want to inform you that I remain undeterred by malicious attempts to tarnish my reputation and will continue to serve Nepal and the Nepalis.”

Rana said she wrote to the embassy requesting only to schedule dates for visa interviews as time was running out to attend the NGO CSW 67, which was held simultaneously to the UNCSW conference in March 2023.

“I had requested the US Embassy to schedule an interview date after I received an invitation to participate in the programme, as my companions would be participating in the same event and could also assist me,” she said.

“I just requested the embassy to set an interview date. I have not requested a visa for anyone.”