Prime Minister Balen Shah has called a cabinet meeting for today, Tuesday, at 3 PM, ending an 18-day gap since the last session. The meeting, to be held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar, is expected to address several critical issues.
The cabinet typically convenes twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. However, its regular schedule has been disrupted for over two weeks due to controversies surrounding Inam Sapkota, a 31-year-old individual from Jhapa using Nepali citizenship, whose alleged connections with high-profile individuals have come under scrutiny.
According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the last cabinet meeting was held on Ashoj 30 (BS). The current meeting is anticipated to make important decisions, especially in light of recent government actions that have drawn criticism, including the arrest of journalists, the detention of joint secretaries, and the cancellation of tenders.
Prime Minister Balen Shah took the oath as Nepal’s 43rd Prime Minister on Chaitra 13, 2082 (BS). The recent disruption in cabinet meetings is directly linked to the Inam Sapkota case, which has cast a shadow over government proceedings.
Inam Sapkota was arrested on Ashoj 25 (BS) and is currently in the custody of the Kathmandu District Police Range. He is under investigation for suspected leakage of sensitive information and judicial manipulation. The public revelation of his alleged ties to high-ranking officials led to the prolonged suspension of cabinet meetings.
The government’s recent actions, such as the arrest of journalists, the detention of joint secretaries, and the cancellation of tenders, have sparked widespread debate and criticism. These issues are likely to be discussed during today’s cabinet session, although a detailed agenda has not been publicly released.
One potential area of discussion involves the operational hours of government offices, which are set to run from 9 AM to 4 PM from Kartik 16 (BS) to Magh 15 (BS).
Another key topic expected to be addressed is the preparation for the Tenth National Games, scheduled to take place in Karnali Province from Mangsir 16 to 27 (BS). Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel launched the 30-day countdown for the event on Kartik 16 (BS).
While the specific decisions to be made remain unclear, the long-awaited cabinet meeting is being closely watched, given the range of pressing issues facing the government.
Background
- The cabinet's regular meetings, typically held twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, have been disrupted for over two weeks.
- The disruption is linked to the Inam Sapkota case, a controversial individual arrested on Ashoj 25 (BS) for suspected sensitive information leakage and judicial manipulation.
