Home Minister to not resign over visit visa scandal

KATHMANDU: Despite mounting pressure from the opposition, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak will not resign over the ongoing visit visa controversy.

According to Mahesh Bartaula, chief whip of the CPN-UML, the issue of Lekhak’s resignation was not discussed during a high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday morning.

The meeting was attended by top leaders of the ruling coalition.

“The discussion at Baluwatar focused on tabling the Economic Survey in Parliament today and preparing for the budget presentation on Thursday,” Bartaula told Khabarhub. “Regarding the Home Minister, the government will respond to the concerns raised in Parliament, but there was no mention of resignation.”

Present at the meeting were Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Congress Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire. CPN-UML’s Mahesh Bartaula also participated.

The opposition has been disrupting House proceedings, demanding Lekhak’s resignation over allegations of facilitating illegal migration through visit visas.

As the government gears up to present the national budget for fiscal year 2025/26 on Thursday, efforts are ongoing to reach a consensus with opposition parties to ensure parliamentary order.

However, with no indication of a ministerial resignation and both sides holding firm, the political standoff shows little sign of resolution.