Controversy Erupts Over PM Karki's Final Cabinet Decisions Appointing Close Aides

Kathmandu. Two decisions made by the Sushila Karki-led government just before its departure from power serve as an example of how those with access to state authority abuse that power.

The Sushila Karki-led government, which was expected to establish good governance and provide correct guidance to future generations, has not only mocked good governance with two controversial decisions made through a cabinet meeting in the latter part of its tenure but has also diminished Prime Minister Karki's own prestige and the influence she gained over the past six months.

• What are the decisions?

First: Appointing personal secretary Adarsh Shrestha as the Chairman of the National Conservation Trust.

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Second: Recommending Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal for membership in the National Assembly.

Sushila Karki, who was appointed Prime Minister with the main responsibility of conducting elections after the Genji movement, received widespread praise immediately after peacefully completing the elections. The initiative taken by the Karki-led government to bring the constitution and democracy back on track by holding elections in a difficult and challenging situation compelled not only supporters but also critics to offer congratulations and thanks.

Sushila, who became everyone's 'mother' regarding the completion of the elections, became embroiled in controversy in the latter part of her tenure by forgetting her own ideals and ethics and giving a 5-year appointment to PA Adarsh Kumar. Not only that, Karki recommended Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal for appointment as a National Assembly member to President Ramchandra Paudel, handing out opportunities to her close associates. These two decisions have cast a dark shadow over Prime Minister Karki's integrity and simple image.

The appointments and recommendations made by Prime Minister Karki to repay favors to her close associates and supporters as she departs have not only drawn widespread criticism on social media but have also raised serious questions about her intentions.

Not only her opponents but also her supporters are questioning Prime Minister Karki's decision and criticizing it sharply. There is mounting pressure from all sides on Prime Minister Karki to withdraw the decision to appoint her personal secretary Adarsh Kumar Shrestha as the Chairman of the National Conservation Trust and Home Minister Aryal as a National Assembly member.

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Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader and House of Representatives member Sagar Dhakal has objected to this decision by the Prime Minister. He has urged her to immediately correct the decision and admit the mistake.

Dhakal, making his views public on social media on Monday, suggested that the Prime Minister should show magnanimity by correcting the decision. Dhakal wrote, 'Mother, even the greatest heroes make mistakes. You have given a great direction to the country; I respect you from the bottom of my heart. We hope that you will show generosity by correcting the decisions made yesterday as you depart.'

Genji activist Bhawana Raut has also objected to the Prime Minister's decision. On Monday, Raut alleged on social media that the Prime Minister distributed posts to repay the favor Home Minister provided in conducting the elections.

'I always thought that people become arrogant as soon as they get power and position, but somewhere there was a hope when I heard that the Home Minister said he would return to his own profession after this government's term ends,' Raut wrote, 'I thought perhaps the leadership born from this movement would be a little different, but it has been proven again that it doesn't take long for words to change in politics. May that chair remind you of the blood of the martyrs, and may the injustice you have done to this movement never give you peace.'

Furthermore, Raut recalled that she was called 'daughter-in-law' (buhari) and given a position yesterday, and mentioned that she was rebuked when she questioned it back then. 'Prime Minister, today you have engaged in the politics of distributing posts to repay the favor for conducting the election again,' Raut wrote.

Raut urged Prime Minister Karki to remember why that election was held, reminding her of the blood spilled on the streets, the comrades who fell, the public outrage that arose, and how that public sentiment shook the system and brought her to the Prime Minister's chair.

'Today, the question arises whether the state power built in the name of that movement, at the cost of that blood, is being used as a means of nepotism and repaying favors. How will you repay the debt of that blood, Prime Minister?' Raut questioned.

Former Chairman of the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, Milan Pandey, has questioned Sushila Karki's ideals. He asked on social media: 'Mother, what kind of 'idealism' is this?'

Pandey further questioned Prime Minister Karki, saying, 'You became Prime Minister on the strength of the movement against the nepotism and favoritism practiced by Genji, so why did you forget that today and show favor to your own other son, Adarsh?' 'Thanks for other things, but this was not right. Not at all,' Pandey wrote.

RSP leader Jwala Sangraula has also objected to Prime Minister Karki's decision. She commented that although the mother flew the plane well, she crashed it while landing even though the weather was clear.

'In the murky and risky weather of Nepali politics, the mother flew the plane well, but when it was time to land and the weather cleared, the plane crashed. Mother has hurt the heart,' Sangraula wrote on social media.

Former Ambassador Nilambar Acharya commented that it is inappropriate for an unelected government, which is about to hand over power to an elected government, to make significant appointments, and that such appointments should not set a wrong precedent.

'The issue is not whom they appointed. The issue is whether the appointment was necessary/unnecessary,' Acharya wrote on social media, 'It is not appropriate for an unelected government, about to hand over to an elected government, to make important appointments, regardless of who the appointees are. One should not set a wrong precedent. Appointments should be made by the new government.'

Mahabir Pun, who was also the Education Minister in the Sushila Karki government, strongly opposed the two decisions of the government.

Pun opposed on social media, saying, 'It is this kind of nepotism, sycophancy, favoritism, and flattery that destroyed the old parties. If work continues in this manner, the new parties will also be wiped out in the long run. I am here to warn you. Let the next government use its wisdom in making those appointments.'

Senior journalist Devprakash Tripathi stated that Sushila Karki has exemplified the saying that an old thief does not become virtuous just because he gets old.

'It was she who, while serving as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, called then-ruling CPN-Maoist leader Barshaman and Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak to her residence at midnight without the knowledge of the Judicial Council members and appointed 80 judges based on party quotas,' Tripathi wrote on social media, 'It was also she who, out of a desire for revenge due to a family dispute, instigated a case against Lokman Singh Karki and delivered a decision contrary to the law.'

Journalist Tripathi stated that she has now shamelessly managed to appoint Om Prakash to the National Assembly membership and her personal secretary to the Chairman of the National Conservation Trust, an organization with which she has no connection or concern.

'It cannot be justified from any perspective for a government whose mandate has automatically expired after the election to make such appointments. These shameless acts of Sushila will remain as a black mark,' Tripathi said.

Former Secretary Bhim Upadhyay satirized Prime Minister Karki, saying that if the cronyism of someone who only came to conduct elections for six months, whose term has now expired, is like this after the election, one can imagine what the so-called plunderer leaders might have done.

'Power is a vein; once entered, discretion becomes zero. That is why secretaries must be cautious of the 'nasewajs' (those who serve the vein/power),' Upadhyay satirized on social media.

Writer and conflict expert Bishnu Raj Upreti commented that although Sushila Karki was made Prime Minister to promote good governance through the Genji movement, she has smeared another dark stain on good governance by appointing her personal secretary to the National Conservation Trust just as she is leaving. 'No matter how much you hide it, the cat will meow,' Upreti commented on Prime Minister Karki's intentions.