KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has strongly criticized the opposition parties for demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, calling the demand baseless and politically motivated.
Speaking with editors and management of Kantipur Media Group after inaugurating the Kantipur Half Marathon on Saturday, PM Oli stated that a mere question raised about a single employee should not lead to calls for a minister’s resignation.
He said there are no formal allegations or investigations against Home Minister Lekhak at this time.
“I respect the opposition’s right to speak and make demands, but there must be a basis for it,” Oli said. “The Ministry of Home Affairs has thousands of employees. If one of them is called in by the anti-corruption body (CIAA), it does not warrant a minister’s resignation—especially when no statement has even been recorded.”
Oli likened the opposition’s demand to asking for the impossible: “Children may ask for a toy elephant, which you can give them. But if they ask to fit a real elephant into a schoolbag, that’s not possible. The same applies to the demand for the Home Minister’s resignation.”
He also pointed out that such demands seem to stem from the opposition’s broader dissatisfaction with the government.
“They don’t like this government at all. It wouldn’t be surprising if they demanded the resignation of the entire government,” he said.
Referring to past instances, Oli noted that when the resignation of a former Home Minister was demanded, an internal investigation by the CIB was underway.
“That was different. Now there’s no such situation. This time, it’s just an excuse to obstruct Parliament,” he said, adding that the opposition is behaving as if a major scandal—like smuggling 35 kilograms of gold—has occurred, when in reality, there’s no such crisis.
Oli further urged political parties to resolve internal disputes without disturbing the broader public. “If there are internal problems or personal ambitions within a party, they should not spill out into the public sphere and disrupt others like noisy neighbors,” he said.
On the topic of the recently presented national budget, Oli defended it as realistic and achievable. He stated that after years of focus on infrastructure, the government will now prioritize social security, good governance, and inclusive development.
He concluded by appreciating the role of sports in uniting people and thanked Kantipur Media Group for organizing the marathon.
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