. The Lumbini Save Mega Campaign has accused the Trust’s office-bearers of creating chaos at the birthplace of Lord Buddha by working against the Guru Yojana. Organizing a press conference in the capital on Monday, the Abhiyan claimed that the Lumbini Development Trust has been made a place of corruption.
Akram Khan, coordinator of the campaign, expressed concern over the religious, historical and international importance of Lumbini being turned into a hub of corruption through political recruitment.
Khan said that the government has drawn the attention of the government as the corruption, trade and business of the office-bearers have started to tarnish the prestige of Lumbini. He has accused the then vice-chairperson of the PADT Awadesh Tripathi (Mettaiya), Larkal Lama, member secretaries Saroj Bhattarai, Sanu Raja Shakya, Dipak Shrestha and senior director Gyanin Rai of embezzling billions of rupees in various pretexts.
Coordinator Khane said that they have come to Kathmandu for investigation and action as the irregularities have increased even after they were alerted.
Ram
Bikash Chaudhary, co-coordinator of the campaign, expressed his confidence that the incumbent government would bring to book the culprits and fair investigation into the irregularities and corruption seen in the fund.
Chaudhary has demanded that the officials who are trying to erase the identity of Lumbini by distorting the originality, religious and archaeological importance of Lumbini should be expelled from the country. Chaudhary claimed that the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) would own and protect the local people only if they were appointed to the post of chief.
“We have seen from folk philosophy to Larkel that Lumbini will not be built as long as there are officials who do not understand Lumbini,” Chaudhary added.
“It cannot be said that the day will not come when the identity of Lumbini will not be questioned if Buddha ashes, idols of temples, bricks and even clay are sold,” said Chaudhary.
Advocate Sudarshan Pradhan said that the then vice-chairman of the fund, Lakyal Lama, member secretary, Dipak Shrestha and Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Ishwor Raj Poudel, had tried to sell the Shanti Mandal worth billions of rupees. Ghanashyam Gupta, a member of the campaign, objected to the tender being issued by Larkel Lama, Dipak Shrestha and Gyanin Rai for commercial benefits and commission even for lighting lamps in Lumbini, the center of religious faith.
Allegations against office-bearers
Awadhesh Tripathi (Metthaiya)
1. Permission to construct Buddha statue in Mahayana Pokhari within the Kosh area in an unauthorized manner contrary to the master plan.
2. Distributing various plots in a malafide manner.
3. The contract was terminated on the grounds that the work was not completed within the time limit of the agreements, including Sokyo Japan, but the agreements with many other monasteries and infrastructure organizations were extended indefinitely for voluntary commissions. Lumbini Development Trust has directly violated the Bihar Area Bylaws.
4. Misappropriation of money by issuing tenders worth crores of rupees in the pond constructed by destroying the animals of the pond around the Mayadevi temple premises.
6. Contracts have been awarded to the construction projects under the Fund in violation of the procedures and procedures.
7. The structures being constructed within the fund were constructed contrary to the master plan.
8. Operating a coffee shop and bookshop on the way to the temple in violation of the rules.
9. Arbitrary misuse of the Crane (Sarus Bird) Foundation.
10. The Lumbini Development Trust has been embezzled by various donors for the past five years.
11. Misusing the dignified position of Vice-President to receive monthly salary from other organizations.
12. Arrangement of tickets for the entry fee of visitors to the religious place Lumbini in violation of the court order.
Lakryal Lama
Outgoing vice-president Larkyal Lama has decided to lease out the Ramgram area, a heritage of religious and archaeological importance, to ‘The Promise Land Pvt Ltd’ owned by Nikesh Adhikari, who is close to Prachanda.
The decision to redesign and reconstruct the Mayadevi Temple, a living heritage site of religious and archaeological importance, is against the law. If he is reappointed, he will try to make a pre-emptive plan of billions of irregularities.
Lama had decided in the board meeting to donate Rs 70 million to the Lumbini Fund.
Saroj Bhattarai was implicated in a bribery scandal of Rs 80 lakh during the tenure of Awadhesh Bhattarai.
He has been suspended for almost 2 years now. The case is pending in the Supreme Court.
Member Secretary Sanu Raja Shakya
Member Secretary Sanu Raja Shakya is directly involved in all the irregularities and corruption that took place during the tenure of Awadhesh and Lacryal Lama and helped them to commit wrongdoing.
Dipak Shrestha and Gian in Rai, who were then member secretaries, and senior director Gyanin Rai stole diamonds, gold, three gold rings, 3 pairs of silver rabbits and other valuables from the Mayadevi temple.
This has been confirmed by CCTV footage from February 17, 2026.
Lumbini Bachao Maha Abhiyan claims that Lumbini has been devastated as these officials of the trust have used Lumbini as a ‘bird that lays golden eggs’ in collusion with domestic and foreign countries instead of implementing the pre-determined master plan.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्
