Valendra Shah Dismisses Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Sah, Issues Warning to Health Minister Nisha Mehta
Image Source, RSS
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On only his second week in office, Prime Minister Valendra Shah ‘Balen’ has dismissed a member of his Cabinet.
Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office announced that Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Deepak Kumar Sah has been removed from the Council of Ministers. Additionally, Prime Minister Shah has warned Health Minister Nisha Mehta over a controversy regarding appointments to the Health Insurance Board.
Prime Minister Shah’s Press and Research Officer Deepa Dahal stated that Minister Sah was dismissed based on the recommendation of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa).
“Prime Minister has dismissed Minister Sah. This decision was made based on Raswapa’s recommendation, which was received today. The party’s Discipline Commission conducted an investigation and advised the party leadership. The party president then recommended this to the Prime Minister, who approved the dismissal,” Dahal explained.
The recommendation letter addressed to the Prime Minister bears the signature of Raswapa President Ravi Lamichhane, proposing the disciplinary action.
The letter states that Minister Sah abused the dignity of his position by engaging a previously inactive member of the Health Insurance Board in regular work, as revealed by the party’s Discipline Commission investigation.
It further states that Sah’s actions have “detrimentally affected the party’s image, ideals, principles, and dignity,” which led to the recommendation for his removal from responsibility.
Efforts to seek a response from Minister Sah were unsuccessful. He was elected from Mahottari-2 in the House of Representatives election held in Falgun.
Prime Minister’s Office Statement
Image Source, Ministry of Labour
Raswapa Chairman Ravi Lamichhane recommended disciplinary action against Minister Sah on Thursday accusing him of misusing his official position.
The Prime Minister’s Office said, “While serving as Labour Minister, Minister Sah abused his office by involving his wife, who was a long-inactive member of the Health Insurance Board, in regular work. Based on this, the party recommended action to the Prime Minister. Such conduct seriously damages the party’s image, ideals, principles, and dignity. Therefore, Raswapa Chairman Lamichhane submitted this recommendation with the commission’s report to the Prime Minister.”
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Raswapa Central Discipline Commission conducted a comprehensive study and submitted a report suggesting that disciplinary action against Sah was necessary.
Raswapa states that under Party Constitution section 25(4)(a), the party president is empowered to ensure that the party’s ideals, principles, and dignity are preserved.
Use of Right to Recall
Image Source, RSS
Raswapa’s constitution provides the party the right to recall members from their duties in cases of misuse of position. Accordingly, immediate removal of Minister Sah from his responsibilities was recommended.
Similarly, Health and Population Minister Nisha Mehta was cautioned by Prime Minister Shah following Raswapa Chairman Lamichhane’s recommendation that she has not shown the expected level of seriousness in her responsibilities, according to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office.
“Based on this recommendation, Prime Minister has also issued a warning to Minister Mehta,” the statement said.
Minister Mehta was elected through the proportional representation system.
Neither the dismissed Minister Sah nor the cautioned Minister Mehta have responded to the allegations against them.
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