11 ministers opt to keep their property details secret

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a vocal advocate for good governance, now finds himself under scrutiny as questions arise about the undisclosed wealth of his cabinet members, including himself.

In a departure from past practices, none of the 23 ministers in the Dahal-led government have made their assets public, leaving citizens in the dark about the extent of their holdings.

Even Prime Minister Dahal has opted to keep his property details private.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, despite his claims of being a proponent of transparency, has failed to disclose his assets, continuing a trend of secrecy even during his tenure as Home Minister.

Among the newly appointed ministers of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), coalition, Education Minister Sumana Shrestha stands out for her failure to submit her property details.

While the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers indicates that 12 ministers, including Prime Minister Dahal and Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane, have submitted their asset statements, this information remains inaccessible to the public.

Despite legal requirements mandating the disclosure of assets within 60 days of assuming office, 11 ministers of the Dahal-led government have failed to comply, casting doubts on the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Among those who have not declared their assets are Law Minister and UML leader Padam Giri, Foreign Minister and Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha, and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and potential corruption within the cabinet.

As Prime Minister Dahal’s administration grapples with this revelation, his promises of good governance ring hollow in the face of widespread secrecy surrounding the assets of his own ministers.

Ministers failing to disclose property details:

1. Raghubir Mahaseth – Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (UML)
2. Narayankaji Shrestha – Minister of Foreign Affairs (Maoist Center)
3. Upendra Yadav – Minister of Health and Population (JSP)
4. Barshman Pun-Finance Minister (Maoist Center)
5. Sumana Shrestha – Minisrer of Education, Science and Technology (RSP)
6. Padam Giri – Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (UML)
7. Bhagwati Chaudhary – Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (UML)
8. Hit Bahadur Tamang – Minister of Cultural Tourism and Civil Aviation (Maoist)
9. Hari Prasad Upreti – Minister of Defense (UML)
10. Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi – Minister of Forest and Environment (JSP)
11. Deepak Karki – Minister of State for Forest and Environment (JSP)