KATHMANDU: The ongoing controversy surrounding Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has taken a new turn, with Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Saroj Guragain being forcibly brought into the office by disgruntled employees who have not received their salaries for the past three months.
This latest development follows the suspension of Guragain by Mayor Balen Shah, who accused him of corruption during the construction of the Kathmandu Tower building.
Shah had ordered the suspension of the CAO, who was appointed by the federal government, over four months ago, citing allegations of mismanagement. Since then, the conflict between Shah and the federal government has deepened, with employees remaining unpaid and tensions rising.
On Thursday, Guragain was forcibly brought into the office by employees and ward chairmen who had been demanding action on the salary issue. Despite his presence in the building, Guragain has not been able to access his office.
The lock placed on his office door by Mayor Shah’s secretariat remains unbroken, and the glass of the door has been shattered. Guragain is currently participating in a municipal meeting, but the official situation remains unresolved.
Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, a key executive member of the KMC, has appealed to City Police Chief Rajunath Pandey to unlock the office, but Pandey has refused, stating that only the mayor’s order could authorize such action.
“We will open the lock only once we receive the mayor’s instructions,” Pandey said.
Meanwhile, the municipal meeting continues without making any official decisions, with the dispute between the mayor’s office and federal authorities showing no signs of resolution.
The ongoing tensions have left employees in a state of limbo, awaiting clarity on their wages and the future of the city’s administrative leadership.
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