KATHMANDU, May 25: Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain has written a letter to party President and Parliamentary Party Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, demanding the dismissal of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey.
In the letter written on Sunday, Bajgain specifically named Lekhak and Pandey, calling for their removal. He also urged the dismissal of other ministers involved in corruption.
“Some ministers' working styles have seriously damaged our party's dignity and public trust (although some ministers are indeed trying to uphold the party's reputation),” lawmaker Bajgain wrote in the letter. “If the party does not take bold decisions in time, this will lead to even more serious political consequences in the future.”
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Lawmaker Bajgain, referring to Home Minister Lekhak, pointed out that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has already initiated a probe against staff members working in the minister’s secretariat. While he acknowledged Minister Lekhak’s courteous nature, he mentioned that a part of him still finds it hard to believe the allegations.
“This is a serious crisis within one of the state's most sensitive institutions. In such a case, the Home Minister should take moral responsibility. This is not just about the leadership of the Home Ministry, but a legal question concerning the very structure of the ministry,” the letter states.
Lawmaker Bajgain has been particularly harsh in his criticism of Tourism Minister Badri Pandey. “Under Pandey’s leadership, the ministry has wreaked havoc on the country’s tourism sector,” he wrote. “Looking at the condition of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), it seems the place has become a hub for smugglers.”
He further stated, “Owners of shops, service providers, loaders, cleaning companies, and various other outsourced companies inside the airport are known to be involved in gold and foreign currency smuggling. These individuals have direct access to the apron area and even to the aircraft.”
Bajgain stated that every area of TIA—from the baggage belt and departure section to the green channel line, customs, and coordination among staff—is in complete disarray. He wrote that the direct responsibility for this situation lies with Minister Pandey and his ministry.
Bajgain has also accused Minister Pandey of promoting Chinese cultural influence in Nepal. “By inviting the Panchen Lama to Nepal, he has supported activities that promote Chinese cultural colonialism in Nepal’s tourism sector, which is a threat to the country’s sovereignty,” Bajgain wrote in the letter.
He demanded the immediate dismissal of ministers who have either seriously failed in their duties or are intentionally or greedily involved in damaging the party’s image.
