KATHMANDU, Aug 30 – Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Sunita Dangol has called on the Metropolitan Police personnel to act as representatives of the institution rather than individuals. Her remarks are widely seen as an implied remark aimed at Mayor Balendra Shah, who is allegedly running the metropolitan personnel according to his personal whims.
Speaking at a program organized on Saturday to mark the 33rd Metropolitan Police Day, Dangol said city police should not be seen as aligned with any one person. She stressed the importance of upholding institutional values and establishing standards that reflect the rule of law.
“Whenever you wear the uniform and step into the field, you should be able to say: I represent not an individual, but the institution; I represent the rule of law,” she said, extending her best wishes to the officers. Dangol also urged the city police personnel to serve as an example in promoting good governance within the metropolis.
Earlier at the same event, Mayor Shah praised the Metropolitan Police, saying their work often feels like watching a Hollywood film. Recalling his childhood experiences, he remarked: “I used to watch Hollywood movies and wonder how our city police would operate like those in big cities such as New York. These days, I often feel like I am watching similar movies.”
The Metropolitan Police has often been viewed as working closely in line with the mayor’s directives and defending him in disputes with other city officials.