KATHMANDU: State Minister for Home Affairs Mohammad Rizwan Ansari tendered his resignation today to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. PM Nepal had yesterday demanded the resignation from Ansari.

Ansari has mentioned “lack of appropriate working environment” and “no appropriate responsibility in the capacity of a state minister” as the main reasons of his resignation.

Lilamani Paudyal, secretary at the Prime Minister’s office, said Ansari’s resignation has been accepted.

Ansari is the only UML minister in the Cabinet elected from direct voting in the CA election. He was elected from Sarlahi-2.

Earlier, talking to The Himalayan Times, Ansari said, “I am resigning as per the PM’s request.” He said the PM had urged him yesterday evening to resign, stating that his recent public statement on the country’s security situation created a major controversy.

Ansari said he had already announced his resignation as he found “rampant irregularities” in several areas, including the transfer and promotion of security officials in his ministry.

“Although, security has improved in the last six months, incidents of crime and murder has gone up with the increase in irregularities in the ministry in recent days,” Ansari said.

“I wanted to resign on moral grounds as I could not do anything in the capacity of a state minister. The home minister barred me from carrying out my duties,” Ansari said.

He said the PM may have asked for his resignation as he disclosed the “bitter situation” of irregularities and lapses in security.