Rastriya Swatantra Party Leader Contradicts Party Pledges on University Appointments

Kathmandu. Top leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have started making statements contrary to the promises made public during the House of Representatives elections and the '100 Points of Governance Reform' brought after the formation of a single-majority government.

RSP General Secretary and Chief Whip of the party in the House of Representatives, Kabhindra BurlaKoti, made statements on Friday, Jestha 29, at the party's Gandaki Province convention, which were contrary to the pledges and the 100 Points of Governance Reform. Both mention freeing universities from political appointments and the arena of party activities.

BurlaKoti said, 'If someone has been inspired to go to the village and vote because they want RSP to win, their name will be added as number one.' He made this statement publicly.

• BurlaKoti's Statement Verbatim

There is a capable person who has taught in the university with integrity without being associated with the party, but they have not carried the flag of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, nor have they carried the flag of any other party.

They are equally capable, but they have also helped a little for the Rastriya Swatantra Party to win, have spoken around their homes in the area, have not stayed in Kathmandu thinking 'what difference does it make who wins', and if they have gone to the village to inspire people to vote because they want RSP to win, their name will be added as number one.

His statement is contrary to point number 12 of the '100 Agenda for Governance Reform of the Government' brought by the government led by RSP senior leader Balendra Shah. That point states, 'The public administration will be made completely free from political interference, impartial, neutral, and accountable to the citizens. For this purpose, civil servants, teachers, professors, and all public servants will be mandated to perform their duties free from direct or indirect affiliation with any party, group, or interest center, and any violation will be strictly dealt with departmentally according to the prevailing laws.'

BurlaKoti's statement is also contrary to the views mentioned in the pledge brought by RSP for the House of Representatives elections held on Falgun 21. In point number 61 of the pledge, RSP has written, 'We will free universities and schools from being arenas of party political activities. We will completely prohibit the political affiliation of teachers and professors.'

Former Chairman of the Professor's Association, Bhimsen Das Pradhan, says that General Secretary BurlaKoti's statement is apolitical and unethical.

Pradhan, who is also a former minister, said that BurlaKoti's statement negates the claim that clean, impartial individuals will be appointed as officials in universities.

'It is unethical and apolitical for a responsible party official to speak contrary to the party's election pledge and the government's 100 points,' Pradhan told Ratopati. 'This statement has killed the hope that the current government will appoint clean and impartial individuals as officials in universities.'