Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar Clarifies: "I Haven't Resigned, Just Returned Government Facilities"

KATHMANDU — Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar has clarified that she has not resigned from her post. Following news reports claiming her resignation, she issued a rebuttal, explaining that she has only decided to stop using government services and facilities.

Speaking with Nepal News Bank, Deputy Speaker Rana Magar stated that since the House of Representatives is not currently in session, she felt it was inappropriate to continue using government perks and subsequently returned her official vehicle.

"I have returned the vehicle, but I haven't submitted a resignation," she said. "Since the nomination process for the proportional representation (PR) category has begun, I returned the vehicle on Sunday. The Parliament isn't running, so why take government facilities for no reason?"

She expressed serious dissatisfaction over media reports claiming her return of the vehicle was a formal resignation. "Gorkhapatra and some online portals wrote that I resigned. It makes me feel ashamed that the media of my own country is reporting this way," she added.

Deputy Speaker Rana Magar alleged that while she is doing work the government has failed to do, attempts are being made to turn her actions into a "spectacle." 

She explained that while her intent was to send a positive message to the public by returning the car, she is being pressured to return the vehicle in the exact condition it was in when she first took office.

"For someone who doesn't even own a house here, I have made sacrifices. I am doing the work the government couldn't do—building homes for children across Nepal and running schools. Yet, I am being mocked. What kind of country is this? I am in pain, but I won't let it show. The more they try to hurt me, the firmer I will stand like a rock," she said.

She cited Article 91 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the terms of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker continue until the day of filing nominations for the next election. Based on this provision, she clarified that she remains in her post but has voluntarily given up her perks.

"The law isn't explicitly clear on the exact moment the term ends in this specific context, so I haven't resigned; I’ve just stopped taking facilities to send a good message to the people," she explained. 

"However, they are demanding I return the car exactly as I received it. I don’t have the money to repair it. Certain forces are teaming up to suppress me."

For the House of Representatives election to be held on Falgun 21, proportional representation nominations are being registered on Poush 13 and 14. 

Article 91 of the Constitution of Nepal mentions that the term of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker remains "until the day the nomination for the House of Representatives election is registered." 

Since Deputy Speaker Rana Magar was elected as a proportional MP from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, she stated that she gave up the services and facilities starting from the day of the proportional nomination registration.