Controversy Erupts as PM's Aide Appointed Head of National Trust for Nature Conservation

Kathmandu. Adarsha Kumar Shrestha, the private secretary to the Prime Minister, has been nominated as the Chairman of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Prime Minister and patron of the Trust, Sushila Karki, nominated Shrestha to the post for the next five years.

Shrestha from Sindhuli was nominated to the vacant post after the previous chairman, Ain Bahadur Shahi, resigned.

He will now chair the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The National Trust for Nature Conservation Act, 2039, stipulates that the Prime Minister shall be the patron of the Trust and the patron shall nominate the Chairman. Following this provision, his appointment of his own private secretary, Shrestha, has now drawn widespread protest.

This decision by former Chief Justice Karki, who is considered a symbol of an unblemished image and good governance, has stunned not only the younger generation who propelled her to the Prime Minister's chair but also the general civil society. The protest stems from the fact that the government, formed on the foundation of the 'Gen-G' movement advocating for good governance, ending corruption, and against nepotism, has forgotten morality and ground realities. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was made the Prime Minister of the interim government upon the proposal of the 'Gen-G' activists. While the government received praise for successfully conducting elections as per its mandate, it is now facing sharp criticism for making a mistake in this appointment. Along with Shrestha, the Karki government also decided today to nominate Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal as a member of the National Assembly.

Former Secretary of Forest Dr. Krishna Chandra Poudel stated that it would have been better if long-term decisions were made by the incoming government, adding that decisions could have been postponed since elections have already taken place.

According to civil society leaders, Sushila Karki, who fought alone to uphold the dignity of the judiciary as Chief Justice, was considered an 'icon' by Nepali society. The reason the 'Gen-G' generation put her forward as Prime Minister was the hope for at least a 'clean administration' from her.

However, this decision in the final phase of her tenure to hand over a significant state institution to her own private secretary has cast a serious stain on her life's achievement, her 'image'. Social activist Sunil Mainali says, "We supported the government on many issues and thanked them. But the government has hurt our feelings at the last moment. A personality like Sushila Karki should not have made such a mistake."

'Gen-G' Protests

Raksha Bam, coordinator of the 'Gen-G' Front, strongly protested various decisions announced by the government today. She expressed particular dissatisfaction with the decision to nominate Prime Minister's private secretary Adarsha Kumar Shrestha as the Chairman of the NTNC.

Reacting through social media, Coordinator Bam commented that the decision goes against the spirit of the street protests demanding good governance. She stated that the tendency of high-ranking officials to distribute posts to their close associates will increase public disappointment.

Gen-G's Blood is Not for Sharing Chairs – Raksha Bam

Bam wrote, "My 'Gen-G' friends faced bullets to their chests and heads chanting slogans for good governance and against nepotism and favoritism on the streets. Thousands of friends, including me, took to the streets without regard for our lives, accepting bullets to our chests. Do you know why? For the dream that this country, even if slowly, would breathe the air of good governance."

She also mentioned that the Prime Minister and ministers should not distribute posts in councils, departments, or committees to their close associates like 'farewell gifts'. Bam warned in her statement in a cautionary tone, "Be careful, that chair is stained red. The street has not forgotten the blood, and a chair colored by blood will not give you any stature."

At the end of her message, she signed off as 'on behalf of a potential martyr of the 'Gen-G' movement.'

Tanuja Pandey told the government, "Do not make fun of the blood of martyrs"

Tanuja Pandey Tells Government: Don't Make Fun of Martyrs' Blood

The 'Gen-G' activists have started protesting the cabinet's decision to nominate Prime Minister's private secretary Adarsha Shrestha as the Chairman of the NTNC. 'Gen-G' activist Tanuja Pandey questioned the government, writing, "Is fooling the public not enough? Do not make fun of the blood of martyrs."

She pointed out that Adarsha Shrestha was a figure who had been controversial before, recalling the incident where an attempt was made to appoint his wife, Sangeeta Shrestha, as a Joint Secretary equivalent to a Joint Secretary. She labeled the government's move in her status as 'disgusting politics'. She wrote, "It seems like a satire in itself that such incidents are repeatedly occurring around those who talk about rising above 'cronyism'. The 'Adarsha' episode has once again shown that the problem here is not just the individuals, but the culture."

She warned those in power to learn lessons from history, adding, "Have some shame, have some fear. If the country and the martyrs are mocked... the fate of those who mock can be seen in Nepal every decade."

Raksha Bam and Tanuja Pandey, along with other 'Gen-G' activists, are strongly protesting on social media. Similarly, other civil society leaders have also started criticizing the government. Social activist Sunil Mainali says, "We thanked the government for many other tasks, but the government has hurt our feelings at the last moment. Sushila Karki should not have made such a mistake."

Chaos in the Trust due to Adarsha's Entry

An employee at one of the Trust's offices in Pokhara says, "There is a tradition here of appointing whomever the government likes to this post. Neither qualification nor experience matters here. We employees are in a state of embarrassment." He added sarcastically, "The government could even appoint the driver of a night bus as the Chairman of this Trust, so what power do we have? We have to accept whoever comes. This whole 'Gen-G' movement must have been for this, right?" The employee added, "Previously too, former Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi appointed the Member Secretary arbitrarily even after losing his post; now the Chairman has come arbitrarily, so what can be done?"

A senior official at the Trust says, "The previous chairman, Shahi, was morally weak, but legally strong. Now, it is Sushila Aama's arbitrariness, neither moral nor legal."

Tradition of Forest Minister Becoming Chairman

The National Trust for Nature Conservation Act, 2039, stipulates that the Prime Minister of Nepal shall be the patron of the Trust. The Act allows the patron to appoint any person they wish as the Chairman. The appointed Chairman is given so much authority that they can appoint all members of the Board of Trustees according to their will.

The Board of Trustees is supposed to consist of three secretaries from the Government of Nepal, three representatives from various governmental and non-governmental organizations, four renowned individuals from national and international organizations, and three other individuals, but the sole decision for all appointments rests with the Chairman. Furthermore, the appointment of the Member Secretary, who serves as the Executive Chief of the Trust, is also based on the Chairman's sole decision.

During the monarchy, the King used to be the patron of the Trust. Since the King appointed a trusted person as Chairman, it appears this provision was made in the Act so that the King could run the Trust according to his wishes. Even 17 years after the establishment of the Republic, this system was not changed. However, the practice was initiated where the Forest Minister would become the Chairman and secretaries from the Forest, Finance, and Tourism Ministries would be ex-officio members to keep the Trust under the government's purview.

Shahi Also Committed a 'Coup'

In the tenure preceding Ain Bahadur Shahi, the Forest Minister in the ousted KP Sharma Oli-led government, a different practice was observed. The then government appointed Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli as Chairman for five years. However, Dr. Oli resigned a year and a half before his term ended after being recommended for an ambassadorship. Subsequently, Shahi continued the old tradition and became the Chairman himself.

Even after Shahi stepped down as Forest Minister following the formation of the new government after the 'Gen-G' movement, he did not resign from the Trust, contrary to the prevailing practice. Instead, during this period, he controversially appointed Naresh Subedi as Member Secretary. Now, the Karki government has taken another controversial step.