March 13, Kathmandu – Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has deleted his comment regarding his asset declaration from social media after facing widespread criticism. In response to claims that ministers hold assets far beyond imagination, Gurung had stated that assets acquired prior to joining the government were not ‘sinful.’ However, after the remarks sparked increased criticism, he removed the related post from social media.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and all cabinet ministers’ asset disclosures were made public. The disclosure particularly highlighted gold, silver, and various ornaments, which drew sharp criticism on social media. Following the surge in criticism, Gurung issued a response via his official Instagram account.
Gurung said that being born poor is not a fault, but dying poor is. “It’s not your fault to be born poor, but it is your fault to die poor,” he wrote in an Instagram story. “If the assets acquired before joining the government are free from corruption, then it is not a sin, but earning through corruption while in government is a sin.” He also tagged the phrase “#chetanaBhaya” (meaning ‘awareness’) to emphasize his message.
