Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Dr Shankar Sharma, who has been nominated for appointment as Nepal’s ambassador to India, has stated that the government should answer questions regarding his reappointment as ambassador to India, not him.
During a parliamentary hearing committee meeting on Sunday, he said that since the government recommended his appointment, it should be accountable for this decision. “The government must have considered all aspects before recommending me. Therefore, the government should answer questions about my appointment,” he said. “I also checked the guidelines after seeing reports in the media. The situation doesn’t align with those guidelines. One government appointed me, another recalled me, and yet another recommended me again.”
During the hearing, committee members asked Sharma if it was appropriate to return to the same country right after serving one term. In response, Sharma said he hadn’t seen anything about this in the law or the constitution. “I checked a guideline which suggests I shouldn’t go if the full four-year term was completed. But it seems I can go now.” However, he maintained that the government should provide all answers to the committee.
Although Sharma is usually soft-spoken, he was notably assertive in the committee meeting. He cited Rule 8 of the Ambassador Appointment Guidelines, 2018, which states that an ambassador’s term is four years, and Rule 21 which prohibits proposing continuity in the same country where one has served.
Apart from Sharma’s claim that he has not completed a full four-year term in India, his other reasoning suggested he is unfit to serve as an ambassador, a member of the committee told Himal Press.
During his first year in India, he struggled to meet even the Foreign Minister. It is surprising why the government is sending him back as if there are no other capable individuals in the country. His statement about being unemployed and coming to complete the government’s process further supports this.
Despite being a recalled ambassador, he actively participated in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony as if he were still in office.
When lawmakers asked Dr Sharma about India’s micro-management in Nepal, he claimed ignorance on the subject, suggesting that politicians would be more informed. “Where did he get the audacity to belittle us like this?” a member commended after the hearing.
