I only gave continuity to previous govt’s proposal, claims Khand [With Statement]

KATHMANDU: Former home minister and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Balkrishna Khand, who is in police custody for investigation into the Bhutanese refugees scam, has vehemently denied any involvement in the fraudulent scheme that duped hundreds of Nepali people by promising them resettlement in the US as Bhutanese refugees.

In his statement to the police, Khand maintained that all the actions he took during his tenure at the Home Ministry were in accordance with the regulations. He explains that he merely carried forward the proposal on Bhutanese refugees initiated by the previous government. “The report of the task force, which the Home Ministry formed, had been received by the then Home Minister and submitted to the cabinet at that time. I simply continued with that proposal,” Khand told police.

Khand took over the position of Home Minister after CPN-UML Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Responding to a question on why he reset his mobile phone, Khand expressed his lack of knowledge about how the phone got factory reset.

In his statement to the police, Khand emphasized that he strived to uphold Nepal’s reputation even when he was not serving as the Home Minister. He said he took the initiative to vaccinate Bhutanese and Tibetan refugees even though they lacked Nepali citizenship. “I received commendations from the international community for my compassionate actions during that time,” Khand claims.

He said it is wrong to send non-refugees to the US for resettlement as Bhutanese refugees. Khand adamantly states that he could never entertain such an idea.

Khand’s Statement:

I know Tek Narayan Pandey because he served as the Secretary of the Government of Nepal. Narendra KC was my private secretary. I know Top Bahadur Rayamajhi for his roles as a member of the Constituent Assembly, a member of the House of Representatives, and a former minister.

I served as the Minister for Home Affairs from July 12, 2021, to December 26, 2022. During my tenure, I diligently fulfilled my responsibilities, which included maintaining peace and security in the country in accordance with the constitution and laws.

The numbers and letters written in the black diary seized by the police are mine. Additionally, two black diaries, one brown diary, and Page 38, which contains property details, are mine. The report submitted by the task force led by Balkrishna Panthi could be with the same task force and the concerned division of the home ministry.

Upon reviewing the documents received from the home ministry with a letter dated May 9, it is evident that the then-home minister asked the home secretary to study the report undersigned by Panthi and another task force member, Ganesh KC, and proceed with its implementation.

I had approved the decisions taken after holding further discussions on the report received by the then-home minister for forwarding it to the cabinet on November 28, 2021.

According to the Government of Nepal Regulations, the concerned department raises the proposal, which is then presented by the secretary. The minister gives approval, and the Council of Ministers endorses the proposal. A proposal regarding measures to resolve the Bhutanese refugee problem was submitted to the cabinet. I cannot recall the exact documents submitted with the proposals.

The regulations have specified the work areas of ministers, secretaries, and other officials. The minister has delegated some of their powers, including the responsibility of safeguarding the ministry’s records, to the secretary.

The same report should not have different treatments of the same subject. There is a separate agency responsible for maintaining various records, including documents, reports, contracts, etc. This falls under the administrative responsibility of the ministry.

It is well known that since I became the Home Minister, I had been providing instructions to high-ranking officials and responsible officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs to maintain peace and order in the country. In this context, I have also instructed against any undesirable activities by Bhutanese or Tibetan refugees.

The state has a responsibility to treat refugees with humanity. When international donor agencies stopped supporting Bhutanese refugees previously, a proposal to allow refugees to study in government or community schools, receive basic healthcare services and treatment in government hospitals, and engage in business activities, including leasing land for group farming, while abiding by prevailing laws, was presented to the cabinet.

This proposal was made in good faith for the management of Bhutanese refugees. Likewise, the ministry has issued circulars to discourage unwanted activities in the name of refugees, so that people are not misled. A notice was issued to all residents of the Bhutanese refugee camp Beldangi by the District Administration Office, Refugee Coordination Unit Beldangi Jhapa, on November 19, 2021. Furthermore, instructions have been sent periodically.

I am not involved in the allegation that I received money from people by promising them resettlement in a third country as Bhutanese refugees. I have no idea how my mobile phone got factory reset.

Even when I held the position of Home Minister, I consistently worked to uphold Nepal’s reputation. During the time of Covid, I took the initiative to vaccinate Bhutanese refugees and Tibetan refugees, even though they lacked Nepali citizenship. This act was widely appreciated by the international community. Sending non-Bhutanese refugees for resettlement in the US as Bhutanese refugees is completely against my principles, and I could never consider such an action.