Nepal’s political turmoil: Parliament suspended, home minister resigns amid financial conduct probe
Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday suspended the meetings of both houses of the federal parliament without convening a session, just days after the April 30 session of both houses of the federal parliament.Ritesh Kumar Shakya, spokesman for the President’s Office, said the president had given “special reasons” for suspending the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on the advice of the government and the Council of Ministers. No further details were disclosed.The most senior member of parliament, Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC, called the government’s decision to suspend parliament without convening a session “unprecedented and surprising”.
Political unrest intensifies
The development comes just a day after Home Minister Sultan Gurung resigned on Wednesday amid allegations of financial conduct during his tenure. Gurung announced his departure on Facebook and said questions about his investments and other affairs should be investigated.“To me, ethics are more important than status, and there is no force more powerful than public trust,” he wrote.Gurung came into the spotlight after ordering the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak for their role in suppressing the Gen Z protests in September last year.
Second minister leaves month-old government
Gurung is the second minister to leave the new government. On April 9, Prime Minister Balendra Shah fired Labor Minister Dip Kumar Sah on the advice of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party over allegations that he abused his power by getting his wife appointed as a member of the Health Insurance Board.An aide told Reuters that Prime Minister Shah will now be in charge of the interior ministry.Shah, popularly known as Barun, and his Rastriya Swatantra Party came to power in March, defeating traditional parties in the first general election since violent Gen Z protests last year demanding generational change and clean government. The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician became prime minister after his three-year-old party came to power promising to rein in corruption and deliver good governance.
