Kathmandu, Feb. 19 -- The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has promised to release cooperative and microfinance operators jailed or in pre-trial detention on a conditional basis, according to its manifesto released from Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province.

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, senior leader Balendra Shah, and vice-chairs DP Aryal and Swarnim Wagle outlined in the manifesto that the party would overhaul weak and unregulated oversight in the cooperative and microfinance sectors, bringing all financial institutions under Nepal Rastra Bank's direct supervision.

Lamichhane himself faces charges in five districts-Kaski, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Kathmandu, and Parsa-for cooperative fraud. The party stated it would adopt a policy to release...