KATHMANDU: The KP Sharma Oli-led government, which has long championed the cause of “good governance,” now finds itself facing intense scrutiny after a shocking series of revelations.
Questions were already raised when Prime Minister Oli appointed Sharat Singh Bhandari—a figure with a tarnished reputation—as Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Security.
But now, the public is left questioning the integrity of the government entirely, as a list of foreign trips taken by Bhandari’s ministry has emerged, painting a disturbing picture of lavish wastefulness at a time of national financial crisis.
As the nation grapples with a shortage of revenue—struggling to pay employee salaries and staring down a daunting budget deficit—there is widespread concern over the government’s spending priorities.
In these dire times, when the country struggles to fund crucial programs like the old age allowance, what does the Oli government do? It sends ministers and government employees’ wives on extravagant foreign trips at taxpayers’ expense.
One particularly shocking example took place last November during the ‘Toward a Labor International’ event in Madrid, Spain.
So, who exactly benefits from these government-funded trips? Shouldn’t the government be sending experts in the relevant fields, rather than making what appears to be a series of all-expenses-paid family vacations?
Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, who should have been focused on national issues, took the opportunity to bring along his second wife, Nirjala Raut. But it didn’t stop there.
At the minister’s behest, former MP Nirjala was sent abroad on a government-funded trip, a move that raises questions about priorities in the midst of a financial crisis.
And if that wasn’t enough, it gets worse. Joint Secretary Surya Bahadur Khatri, eager to follow in the minister’s footsteps, took his wife, Mittu Thapa, along.
Not to be outdone, Deputy Secretary Kabiraj Upreti made sure his wife, Shobha Rijal, was included in the group.
But it didn’t end with just the high-ranking officials—Branch Officer Ayushi Bhattarai took matters into her own hands, writing a letter to the Consular Services Department demanding that she, too, be included in the delegation. While everyone else traveled with their spouses, Ayushi was the only one who went solo.
So, who exactly benefits from these government-funded trips? Shouldn’t the government be sending experts in the relevant fields, rather than making what appears to be a series of all-expenses-paid family vacations?
Will Prime Minister Oli, who often preaches the ideals of good governance, turn a blind eye to this scandalous misuse of public funds?
Or will he finally take action against the ministers and government employees responsible for this shameful misuse of taxpayer money?
And perhaps most critically—will the ministers and senior officials involved step forward and reimburse the government for the extravagant travel expenses of their wives?
These are the questions the Oli government must now answer, and the answers cannot be delayed any longer.
Meanwhile, Janaastha Weekly has also reported an even more shocking twist: Minister Bhandari, embroiled in this scandal, has seemingly turned a blind eye to the well-being of his elder wife, Rashmi, raising further concerns about his priorities.
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