Ministers and their misdeeds

'Misdeeds' of ministers is a malaise in Nepal too. Take new information minister Agni Sapkota, a former teacher who has another aspect to his past-— that of an alleged murder.

Updated on: May 9, 2011, 24:07:36 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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'Misdeeds' of ministers is a malaise in Nepal too. Take new information minister Agni Sapkota, a former teacher who has another aspect to his past-— that of an alleged murder.

Sapkota, a Maoist central committee member and five party colleagues allegedly abducted and murdered Arjun Bahadur Lama, a teacher from Kavre district six years ago during the civil war.

The body was never recovered. In March 2008, acting on a petition by Lama's wife Purni Maya, the Supreme Court directed authorities to lodge a case of abduction and murder against Sapkota and five others.

While authorities continue to soft-pedal on the case, Sapkota and his party insist probe should be conducted by the truth and reconciliation commission, which is yet to be set up five years after the peace deal.

But the minute Sapkota's name figured among Maoist ministers who joined the Jhalanath Khanal government last week, the UN office for human rights in Nepal (UNOHCHR-N) questioned the move.

Rather than answer uncomfortable queries, the PM remained mum. His press advisor blamed Maoists for forwarding Sapkota's name. And true to his name Sapkota lashed at the UN body for "interfering in Nepal's internal issues".

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Nepal's new home minister who was allotted the portfolio despite stiff resistance from the PM's party was also in headlines for wrong reasons.

Last September, a phone conversation of Mahara allegedly seeking NRs 500 million from a 'Chinese friend' to bribe 50 lawmakers to vote for Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the PM, surfaced.

Despite the initial brouhaha, the matter soon got buried.

A cartoon in a local newspaper showing Mahara headed for the home minister's chair shaped like a phone rekindled memories.

Last month, minister of state for finance Lhar Kyal Lama resigned after details of him having an Indian passport, a Nepali passport as well as a Tibetan refugee identity card emerged.

The past does have a strange way of catching up. Jhalanath Khanal and several of his ministerial colleagues would agree.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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