KATHMANDU, MAY 25
Nepali Congress lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain today wrote to NC Parliamentary Party Leader and party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, urging him to seek the dismissal of two NC ministers in the Cabinet-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey.
Bajgain stated that the conduct of certain ministers has seriously undermined the dignity of the NC and eroded public trust, although he acknowledged that a few ministers are indeed working to uphold the party's image.
If the party fails to take firm action in time, it could lead to grave political consequences in the future.
In his letter, Bajgain said that the elderly, poor mothers and sisters, Dalits, laborers, and marginalized communities-whose sons and daughters are often in Gulf countries, many of them on so-called "visit visas"-were NC voters. "When I see their struggles, insecurity, and uncertainty abroad, a deep question troubles me-when will this pain end? And how?" he wondered.
He questioned why the NC was repeatedly giving the same people opportunities to serve as ministers.
Stating that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has already initiated an investigation against officials working in the Home Minister's Secretariat, Bajgain said that, according to widely reported news, the Secretariat of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is said to be involved in human trafficking and immigration abuse.
This, he said, represents a grave crisis within one of the state's most sensitive institutions. In such a case, the Home Minister must bear moral responsibility. "This is not just about the leadership of the Ministry of Home Affairs-it is a fundamental legal and structural question concerning the ministry itself," Bajgain stated.
Similarly, under the leadership of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Pandey, the ministry has wreaked havoc on the country's tourism sector. The condition of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Bajgain said, reflects this chaos-it has virtually become a hub for smugglers. Shop operators, service providers, loaders, cleaning companies, and many outsourced firms within the airport-several of whom are already proven to be involved in gold and foreign currency smuggling-reportedly have apron and aircraft access.
He said that from the baggage belts to the departure area, green channel lines, and customs coordination-every part of the airport was in complete disarray.
International visitors, Bajgain added, encounter disorganization, foul smells, delays, and irresponsibility the moment they set foot in Nepal. This directly falls under the responsibility of Minister Pandey and his ministry.
Moreover, Minister Pandey appears to be actively promoting Chinese cultural influence. By inviting the Panchen Lama to Nepal, he has supported initiatives that propagate Chinese cultural colonialism under the guise of tourism promotion, which Bajgain said is a serious threat to Nepal's sovereignty.
"Previously, I had publicly spoken out against Minister Badri Pandey. At that time, party leaders advised me to raise such matters internally first. While I felt this advice was ill-timed, I accepted it out of respect for party discipline. Today, at the request of senior party leader Anand Dhungana and General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma, I am formally presenting this matter in writing," Bajgain stated.
"This time, my message is unequivocal-ministers who have gravely failed in their responsibilities, or who have tarnished the party's image through greed and misconduct, must be immediately dismissed," he wrote.
