Home Minister Gurung Unhappy Over Criticism from Ruling Party Lawmakers in Parliament

Dragon Media Correspondent

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has expressed dissatisfaction over lawmakers from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) publicly criticising the government and his ministry in Parliament.

During a parliamentary party meeting called by RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane on Wednesday, Gurung urged lawmakers to raise concerns internally before speaking against the government or his ministry in public.

According to a lawmaker who attended the meeting, Gurung argued that issues that could be resolved within the party should preferably be handled through internal mechanisms, as public criticism by ruling-party lawmakers could provide additional political ammunition to the opposition.

He told lawmakers that if they had concerns or requests related to the Home Ministry, they could contact him directly or approach his personal secretariat.

Quoting Gurung, the lawmaker said, “It would be better if there were no protests against us in the House. When our own honourable members speak publicly, it only strengthens the opposition. If you have any issues with me, you can directly call my personal secretary.”

Gurung reportedly indicated that he would prefer lawmakers from his own party not to repeatedly criticise him in Parliament and said internal disagreements should, as far as possible, be addressed within the party.

In recent weeks, some RSP lawmakers have raised questions in Parliament and parliamentary committees over government performance, ministers’ working styles and the quality of public service delivery. The developments have fuelled discussion about insufficient coordination between the government and the ruling party’s parliamentary wing.

Against this backdrop, Lamichhane called the meeting to facilitate direct discussion between ministers and lawmakers and improve coordination between the government and the parliamentary party.

Although lawmakers had been instructed to attend the meeting, Prime Minister Balen Shah, who is also the RSP parliamentary party leader, did not participate.

During the meeting, ministers briefed lawmakers on the work of their respective ministries, while MPs raised constituency-level problems, public complaints and shortcomings in government performance.

The discussion has also brought into focus a broader issue within the ruling party: how lawmakers can maintain their parliamentary responsibility to scrutinise and question the government while preserving internal coordination and political cohesion.