KATHMANDU, Feb 20: Sajha Party and Bibeksheel Nepali Dal have urged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to immediately sack Minister for Information Gokul Baskota.

Issuing separate press statements on Thursday, Sajha Party and Bibeksheel Nepali Dal also demanded to launch investigation against the minister.

The two parties said that they have noticed an audio recording of a conversation between Minister Baskota and Swiss Company local agent Bijaya Prakash Mishra made headlines in Nepali media, where the minister is heard negotiating for Rs 700 million in bribe over the procurement of security printing press for the government.

In its press release, Sajha Party raised question on the Prime Minister Oli's commitment to zero tolerance against corruption. It also expressed concern over growing cases of corruption while noting that mega corruption scandals surfaced after the present government came to power.

In the press release, Bibeksheel Nepali Dal said that its attention was drawn to the media reports over Minister Baskota's alleged involvement in bribery in connection with procuring the security printing press for the government.

The party, in its press release, demanded that the government should immediately sack the information minister and launch investigation against him.

"We urge the government to bring truth to the public regarding the minister's alleged involvement in bribery," the party stated.

The two parties also noted that people are deeply fraustrated due to series of corruption scandals in the country in recent times.