75% of obstacles to govt work come from bureaucracy: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the biggest reform must take place within Singha Durbar, the government’s main administrative center.

In an interview with state-owned news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Sunday, Karki said she had noticed that bureaucrats are heavily involved in politics. “Secretaries keep spinning every issue around. When it comes to their own interests, they present two or three options. But when it comes to national interests rather than their own, they say it cannot be done or will not work. They threaten to involve the anti-corruption body, and if nothing works, they say the matter could become controversial,” she said. “75% percent of the obstacles to government work came from there.”

Karki also said the report of the investigation commission formed to probe the incidents of September 8 and 9 will be presented at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday.

“We will hold discussions on the report in the cabinet and take a decision. We do not have much time now. A new mandate has already been given. The new government will certainly move forward with the remaining process,” Karki said in an interview with state-owned news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Sunday.

“Secretaries keep spinning every issue around. When it comes to their own interests, they present two or three options. But when it comes to national interests rather than their own, they say it cannot be done or will not work.”

Karki said that although there were many challenges when she assumed leadership, she was able to overcome them. “Even I had doubts about whether I would be able to work effectively. We had only six months. On top of that, there were attacks from many sides. There was mistrust as well. All the old parties stood against us,” she said. “Those who claimed to represent Gen Z even told us to step down immediately, saying we had hijacked the Gen Z movement. At that time, there were very few people willing to support us.”

The Prime Minister added that messages of peace and empathy were scarce from many quarters. “We did not have a large base of supporters or an organization behind us. Only a handful of us were in government. People did not trust us either,” she said. “On top of that, there were remarks made simply because I am a woman. But I heard them from one ear and let them out the other. I never abandoned my work.”

Karki also expressed confidence in Balendra Shah, the senior leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which won 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. “I understood that Balen’s election campaign conveyed the message that the Tarai, hills, and mountains are united. I have confidence in Balen. I hope something positive will happen,” she said.

She also said she had not expected CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli to lose the House of Representatives election. “I never thought Oli would lose. It is the place where he has been doing politics for 30–40 years and where he has his supporters and acquaintances,” she said.
“I told him people would vote for him. I thought that would happen.”

She said the mandate given by the people must now be respected. According to her, the victorious side should not ignore the minority after the election. “The RSP must respect the old parties. If the ruling side makes mistakes, the opposition must raise its voice,” she said.

Karki said the new government must first address the demands raised by Gen Z by ensuring good governance, controlling corruption, and creating employment opportunities.