Thapa challenges PM to remove ministers not following his instructions

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has told Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down if he cannot take action against ministers who are not abiding by his instructions.

A few days ago, Prime Minister Dahal said some ministers didn’t follow his instructions.

“PM Dahal told chiefs of local governments that he had wanted to provide the equalization grant as asked by them, but the ministers were not willing,” Thapa said, speaking in parliament on Sunday. “This is a parliamentary system. If ministers are not implementing the PM’s instructions, they should be removed. If the Prime Minister cannot remove ministers, he should step down.”

Thapa also said the equalization grant is the constitutional right of the local government and a constitutional liability of the federal government.

“We are hearing that the federal government is reducing the equalization grant citing a resource crunch. Isn’t it a matter of shame that the government, which is allocating budget for petty projects at the ward level, is cutting the grant citing resource constraints?” he said. “This is unconstitutional and unacceptable.”