Home Minister Aryal: Government's Main Task is to Ensure Good Governance and Conduct Elections

Lumbini, 25 Npvember : Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal stated that the current government's mandate is to promote good governance and successfully conduct elections. 

He said the current government is working with the main responsibility of fulfilling the core mandate of promoting good governance and holding elections as its guiding principle.

Addressing the Lumbini Province-level Security Seminar today in Bhairahawa, Home Minister Aryal said that the government has succeeded in moving past the dreadful situation and normalizing the security environment, and now the responsibility of holding elections and transferring leadership rests on their shoulders. 

He stated that they would answer with action to those who use various excuses to claim that elections will not be held or that the government is incapable of holding them.

"We have heard talks in some places, citing various excuses, that elections will not be held and that (the government) is incapable of doing so," he said. "The government will answer and is answering these kinds of public statements through its work and performance."

Regarding the context where political parties pointed to looted weapons and escaped prisoners as major security challenges, Home Minister Aryal said, "We have already retrieved a large number of those weapons through special operations, and a large number of prisoners have also been returned."

Home Minister Aryal mentioned that the current government took charge under exceptional circumstances, following the protests by the Gen Z youth on September 8 and 9, demanding good governance and control over corruption. 

"The current government was not formed through anyone's favor, we did not come with any personal expectations, nor did we come out of our personal desire," he stated. "We have come to fulfill the vacuum in the country's unique situation, as circumstances have entrusted us with a special responsibility."

Home Minister Aryal said the province-level security seminar was started from Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, to spread the message of peace and non-violence. He expressed hope that the seminar would enable the provincial government to formulate a robust security plan. 

Highlighting that Lumbini Province is at risk in terms of revenue leakage, Home Minister Aryal stated that this government, built on the foundation of good governance, has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards controlling leakage.

"There is no need to placate anyone incorrectly; professional work execution is enough," he said. "Therefore, alongside this seminar, any weaknesses remaining in the involvement of government mechanisms in controlling revenue leakage must end."

Home Minister Aryal drew the attention of security officials to the ongoing revenue leakage at customs points along the Nepal-India border and the failure to control it. 

Addressing the provincial-level security seminar, he expressed serious concern that activities related to revenue leakage through the open border had not stopped.

In the program, Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya stated that the main issue now is the defense of the Constitution and its full implementation. 

"Some leaders might be wrong, but the system is not broken," he said. "Some leaders might be flawed, but the system is not broken. The governance structure is not broken. It is essential for all agencies to internalize this fact."

He also underscored the need for radical change in the security sector. He stressed that the federal government must be serious about bringing those who set fire to personal property in the name of protests under the legal framework. 

Chief Minister Acharya clarified that the provincial government is dedicated to the campaign of establishing good governance and reducing corruption.

"We have moved forward with the work to fulfill the commitments and resolutions made when taking over the leadership of the government. 

We are working with a strategy to promote good governance and reduce corruption, and we have implemented a code of conduct for ministers," he said. "This is the same government that moved forward by abolishing the services and facilities of former VIPs."

The seminar, attended by Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal, Inspector General of Nepal Police Dan Bahadur Karki, Chief of Armed Police Raju Aryal, and Chief District Officers and District Police Chiefs from 12 districts, will synthesize the security challenges of Lumbini Province and prepare the necessary strategy for the elections by ensuring security preparedness.