Prime Minister Balen Shah mandates secret communication lines for cabinet ministers

Kathmandu. Do you know all the phone numbers used by the current ministers? It is impossible to know because, beyond their public contact numbers, they possess another line that they disclose to no one.

This number is used exclusively for communication between them and Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen). Even their families and relatives are unaware of this contact information.

They also carry separate mobile devices. The additional handsets they carry are the latest versions of the iPhone, which cost approximately 180,000 rupees in the Nepali market. Prime Minister Shah, who prefers to adopt a unique style in everything, has implemented this practice. Sources state that the Prime Minister's Office has purchased new mobile sets and SIM cards for all ministers under his directive.

Prime Minister Shah, who prioritizes digital information technology and privacy, began establishing such rules during his tenure as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

According to special sources, Prime Minister Shah does not call any of the ministers' public numbers, nor does he answer calls from any numbers other than these secret ones. The Prime Minister's Office claims this practice is implemented for security sensitivity, privacy, and rapid communication.

The claim is that Prime Minister Shah adopted this style because, when using public numbers, ministers' private conversations were frequently leaked and controversial statements were repeatedly recorded.

In the past, controversial tape recordings of former Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former Communications Minister Gokul Baskota, and others were made public, leading to the resignations of several ministers and lawmakers. In the previous parliament, lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party lost his position after an audio recording surfaced in which he demanded a bribe of 20 million rupees.

Balen, who already keeps his distance from public statements and easy access, only contacts ministers on the secret number when necessary. He does not interact easily with all leaders of his own party either. When needed, he primarily engages with party chairman Rabi Lamichhane, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, and Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle.

Many ministers have become suspicious after being required to carry an additional set and SIM card solely to communicate with the Prime Minister. Although they feel uncomfortable, they do not disclose their dissatisfaction or the phone numbers.

'You have another number, don't you! What is it?' In response to this question, one minister says, 'I cannot tell you that, and I cannot give you the number.' However, Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal stated she was unaware of the arrangement for a separate SIM and handset. She said, 'I am just hearing about this now. I don't know anything about it.'

Is this practice right or wrong?

Ananda Khanal, former senior director of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, suggests that the current cabinet may have done this to ensure there are no obstacles in the pace of their work. He says, 'This may have been done for reasons such as privacy, communication security, time management, quick response, and staying focused on issues.'

Was this practice followed in previous cabinets? Former Chief Secretary Leelamani Paudel says, 'It was not, and I have no knowledge of it ever happening.'