KATHMANDU, APRIL 21
In light of Home Minister Sudan Gurung's involvement with shady broker and businessman Deepak Bhatta, major opposition parties have increased their calls for a fair investigation and the home minister to step down.
The Nepali Congress called for the home minister's resignation yesterday, while the CPN-UML demanded a fair investigation into Home Minister Gurung today.
Min Bahadur Shahi, a CPN-UML central member and press coordinator, issued a press release demanding the formation of a high-level investigation committee into all matters involving Home Minister Gurung. In addition, the UML has demanded that the investigation against the home minister begin immediately.
"The CPN-UML strongly demands a fair and independent investigation into home minister-related matters. The investigation should be conducted without any form of power or influence," the statement said. "A high-level mechanism should be established to investigate all cases in which the home minister has been implicated, and the investigation process should begin immediately."
The UML has also demanded that Home Minister Gurung immediately pave the way for an investigation that is smooth, fair and free of influence, with no delays or cover-ups.
According to the statement, the UML will continue to advocate for the institutionalisation of fundamental values, such as the rule of law and good governance. The UML stated that the rule of law is a fundamental principle that applies equally to all citizens.
Issuing a press release yesterday, Nepali Congress had called for Gurung to step down and asked the government to look into the matter.
"The Nepali Congress clearly demands that the government immediately launch an independent, impartial and high-level investigation into all allegations against the home minister," the statement read. "Any attempt to postpone, sway or conceal this matter will gravely undermine ethics, public trust and good governance."
Harkaraj Rai, lawmaker and the chair of the Shram Sanskriti Party, has called for Home Minister Gurung to step down immediately. Responding to mediapersons' questions today about Home Minister Gurung, Rai argued that the home minister's continued tenure is inappropriate because new scandals and controversial issues emerge about him on a daily basis.
"We hear new things about him all the time; it would be preferable if this did not occur. What are we hearing about him two or three times a week? Thus, I believe it would be better if he paves the way for the investigation to proceed," said Rai.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Gurung has called allegations against him media trials and efforts to falter him.
Taking to the social media late last night, he said, "Scared?? Those who have eyed the nation's treasury built from the blood and sweat of citizens for years are terrified today. The media trials and sponsored rumours are merely signs of their desperation. The investigation will not stop; we will not falter. I haven't seen this much effort put into targeting even those who were looting Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) a day."
In his prior post, Minister Gurung had claimed that he has done nothing wrong. He stated that he would support the required investigation and accept the party's decision. "I am prepared to provide necessary assistance in the investigation and will fully comply with every decision the party makes on this matter."
A version of this article appears in the print on April 22, 2026, of The Himalayan Times.
