KATHMANDU: The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Balen Shah, made no formal decision or public statement on the ongoing communal unrest in Sunsari during its meeting on Wednesday, despite growing questions over the government’s handling of the situation.
The Cabinet meeting, held at 4 pm, was attended by Prime Minister Shah, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and other ministers. The unrest, which began on Sunday following violent clashes between two communities in Devanaganj, Sunsari, has left one person dead, several others injured, and prompted curfews and heightened security measures in the district.
However, while announcing the Cabinet’s decisions after the meeting, government spokesperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel did not mention the Sunsari situation.
Instead, Pokharel said the Cabinet had approved the tabling of several bills in the Federal Parliament, including legislation related to mines and minerals, constitutional office-bearers’ remuneration, contagious animal disease control, passports, human trafficking, child labour prohibition, domestic air services, mediation and the Employees Provident Fund.
He also said the meeting designated the Director General of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, or an authorised official, as the investigating authority for foreign exchange-related offences.
The Cabinet further appointed Khetaraj Dahal of Sindhuli as a member of the Problematic Cooperative Management Committee and approved the sixth amendment to the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) Regulations, 2083.
After listing the decisions, Pokharel left the venue without taking questions from journalists.
Reporters attempted to ask whether the Cabinet had discussed the violence in Sunsari and what the government’s official position was. Before the questions could be answered, the minister said he was in a hurry to attend another programme and walked away.
His press aide, CB Adhikari, was also seen assisting him as he exited the briefing area.
The Cabinet’s silence on the issue and the spokesperson’s refusal to respond to questions have drawn attention as the government faces increasing scrutiny over its response to the deteriorating security situation in Sunsari.
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