'I sincerely apologise for the harm this incident has caused'
KATHMANDU, APRIL 25
Bishwaraj Pokharel, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Okhaldhunga, has apologised in the face of growing criticism from lawmakers, netizens and members of his own party for mistreating Santadhahadur Magar, the principal of Chandeshwori Secondary School.
A short video of Pokharel behaving angrily and indecently towards the principal went viral and was shared by several netizens. A majority of them blasted lawmaker Pokharel for his behaviour. Following the incident, Ganesh Karki, an MP from his own Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), made sarcastic remarks about his actions.
Legislator Karki, who is also the chairperson of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of Directive Principles, Policies and Obligations of the State Committee of the parliament, wrote on social media yesterday, symbolically warning his colleagues not to be arrogant about their positions and to remember their election commitments. He stated that he would rather be referred to as an MP than an honourable person and that public representatives should maintain their modesty.
Karki wrote, "I don't like being called 'honourable.' If necessary, I would prefer to be referred to as an MP. Even this MP position has a maximum tenure of five years; why make it a habit? And it hasn't even been two months since I greeted thousands of people with, 'Give me one vote.' Why would I forget that? Let us not forget our roots?"
Independent lawmaker Mahabir Pun also took to social media, sharing the video and stating that Bishwaraj should be dismissed.
"What party does he belong to? I would have immediately dismissed him and sent him home if I had been his leader. An MP works for the people. An MP should do the work that the people of his constituency have ordered," he wrote.
Pun has stated that Pokharel ought to issue an apology. "He should devote his time and energy to the people's work for five years. Why should he act so haughtily and conceitedly for everyone to see and hear that he was not welcomed on the road? He should either apologise right away or be recalled by the entire people. He has dishonoured the office of a parliamentarian," he stated.
Following widespread criticism, Pokharel apologised for the incident in a statement issued today. Furthermore, he clarified the controversy surrounding his visit to Chandeshwori Secondary School in Khijidemba Rural Municipality-2 on April 22 to learn about the issues confronting his constituency's residents during the Federal Parliament's break.
He asserts that only a portion of the incident was depicted in the video that went viral on social media, leaving out the entire context. He has apologised for the controversy that resulted from the factual and contextual information being presented insufficiently. However, admitting that his speech, behaviour and restraint in public should be of a higher standard, he stated that he should be more patient and dignified despite the circumstances.
"I sincerely apologise for the harm this incident has caused to the party, well-wishers, supporters, school families, local communities and the general public," Pokharel stated.