Gauri Kumari resigns as industry minister following controversial remarks

KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Gauri Kumari, has resigned following her controversial remarks about liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers at a parliamentary committee meeting.

Kumari submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday, according to sources.

Yadav came under criticism after telling the Industry, Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee that the LPG bottlers should be penalized for mismanagement in LPG supplies.

Members from the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday evening called LPG bottlers to disregard the minister’s comment and continue their work as usual.

Minister Kumari’s remarks drew strong criticism from the private sector, with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) describing them as objectionable and irresponsible. In a statement, the FNCCI said it was inappropriate to portray all gas entrepreneurs as responsible for the supply problem at a time when the government and private sector should be working together to ensure regular supplies to consumers.

It said the minister’s remarks could demoralize private-sector businesses that had been cooperating with the government in rescue, relief and the supply of essential goods during the disaster.

The Nepal LPG Industry Association also expressed serious concern over the minister’s remarks, stating that LPG bottlers had been working around the clock to maintain supplies despite the natural disasters.

Yadav took the oath as industry minister in the last week of March. She is an elected member of the House of Representatives from Mahottari-4.