Himal Hub / Prime Minister Balen Shah, who recalled then Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Sah without even offering him a chance to clarify allegations, has remained unresponsive as serious legal and ethical questions emerge against Home Minister Sudan Gurung. Meanwhile, discussions between party chair Rabi Lamichhane and the prime minister on the matter are ongoing.
Sah had come under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that he had appointed his wife as a member of the Health Insurance Board. The prime minister conducted an internal inquiry but neither he nor his team provided Sah with a formal opportunity to defend himself beyond informal questioning. Instead, Sah was directly recalled and removed from office within just 13 days.
At the time, the decision was widely praised as a bold move in favor of good governance, sending a message that even minor misconduct or ethical concerns would not be tolerated.
However, despite more serious allegations now surrounding Home Minister Sudan Gurung, neither the prime minister nor his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has issued any formal response. Meetings have taken place between Lamichhane and Shah, and Gurung also met the party chair on Tuesday, but the government and party have yet to clarify their position.
Gurung attended a Cabinet meeting at 3 PM without issue, and the matter was not discussed. One minister stated that it was “not an issue for Cabinet discussion,” suggesting that the prime minister and party leadership are handling it.
Although widespread public concerns have been raised, even a recent RSP meeting failed to address the issue. Party leaders avoided commenting publicly, and spokesperson Manish Jha confirmed that no proposal or discussion on Gurung had taken place, saying decisions cannot be made without proper deliberation.
Questions have been raised over Gurung’s undisclosed shares in two microinsurance companies and the lack of transparency regarding the source of his assets. Although Gurung issued a clarification on social media claiming the shares were purchased through loans, these were not reflected in his asset declaration. Instead, he broadly cited inheritance, business, and investments without detailed breakdowns.
His asset disclosure includes hundreds of ropanis of land and 89 tolas of gold, but lacks clear source transparency. He also reported NPR 27.4 million invested in publicly traded shares without specifying the companies.
Additionally, Gurung allegedly failed to disclose 25,000 shares each in Liberty Micro Life Insurance and Star Micro Insurance, raising both legal and ethical concerns.
Despite these issues, the party’s disciplinary committee has not sought clarification from Gurung, unlike in Sah’s case, where an explanation was requested. Acting head of the disciplinary commission Ramakant Rimal confirmed that no action has yet been taken.
Party leaders maintain that the matter is under study and that a decision will be made after further review. However, critics argue that a party formed on the promise of good governance is now attempting to downplay serious allegations involving a senior minister.
