Gurung unhappy over treatment of secretary, police chiefs at PAC meeting

KATHMANDU: Minister for Home Affairs Sudhan Gurung has defended the chiefs of the security agencies and the home secretary after Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Khagendra Sunar called for their removal from office over alleged irregularities in the procurement of uniforms and other supplies for election police personnel.

Speaking at the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives on Friday, Gurung objected to the way the home secretary, senior ministry officials, and police chiefs were treated during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday.

Gurung said allegations alone should not be used to declare anyone guilty or damage their reputation.

“The way our secretary, joint secretaries and the police chief were treated in a committee has drawn the home minister’s attention,” Gurung said.

He said lawmakers should not assume the role of judges merely based on complaints.

“We cannot become judges based merely on someone’s complaint. Anyone can make an allegation. On that basis, someone’s character cannot be assassinated,” Gurung said. “It is not good. The home ministry’s attention has been drawn to the incident. We are not happy about it.”

Gurung’s remarks came two days after the PAC directed the government to submit documents related to the procurement of uniforms and other supplies for election police personnel recruited for the March 5 elections.

During Wednesday’s meeting, RSP lawmaker Sunar had demanded that a committee should be formed to probe the alleged irregularities in the procurement of uniforms for election police personnel. “The incumbent home secretary and IGP should not remain in office once the committee is formed,” Sunar had said.