UML seeks resignation of three ministers

KATHMANDU: The main opposition CPN-UML has demanded the resignation of three federal government ministers of the federal government.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Friday, UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai demanded the resignation of Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala, and Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati.

“Minister Jwala should step down on moral grounds as the probe commission has said in its report that the Balkumari incident occurred due to his negligence. It is not appropriate for Minister Jwala to continue in his post,” Bhattarai said. “The two youths died after receiving bullets from security personnel. The government should take responsibility for the incident.”

Bhattarai also questioned whether the Minister for Home Affairs, who commands security agencies, should take moral responsibility for the incident.

Bhattarai, who is also the secretary of UML, said Minister Basnet, who has been questioned by the anti-graft body for involvement in the irregularities in the procurement of Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (Teramocs), cannot continue in his position. “The investigation could be compromised if Minister Basnet stays in power,” he added.

Bhattarai also said Minister Kirati has also lost moral grounds to continue in his post since the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament has instructed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to investigate the decision to hand over the Ramgram stupa area to a private party for 100 years.

He also asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to inform the house about the three ministers.