{"id":26472,"date":"2026-09-30T07:29:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T01:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=26472"},"modified":"2026-09-30T07:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T01:44:32","slug":"the-governments-first-priority-must-be-the-fight-against-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=26472","title":{"rendered":"The Government\u2019s First Priority Must Be the Fight Against Corruption<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Controlling corruption is among the public\u2019s greatest expectations of the present government. It is also an opportunity for the new leadership to make its claims credible. Expressing anger in the streets and taking evidence-based action after assuming power are different responsibilities. The government should judge its performance by the independence, fairness and effectiveness of its investigations, rather than by the number of people it arrests.<\/p>\n

An anti-corruption campaign cannot begin and end with speeches by the prime minister or ministers. The government must first open its own decisions, appointments and spending to scrutiny. Public procurement contracts, changes in costs, progress on projects and payment records should be published in a form citizens can understand. The first step towards preventing abuse of power is to make it possible to see who made a decision, on what grounds and for whose benefit.<\/p>\n

Position and political connections must offer no exemption from investigations into major cases. Serving officials, former leaders, civil servants, security officials and people close to political parties must all face the same legal standard. It is wrong to declare someone guilty merely because a complaint has been filed; it is equally wrong to set a complaint aside because the person concerned is powerful. A fair investigation gathers evidence, gives the accused an opportunity to respond and takes a case to court only when there are sufficient grounds.<\/p>\n

The independence of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, the police and prosecuting authorities is crucial. Those institutions cannot be expected to investigate fearlessly while appointments are divided among political parties. The qualifications of prospective leaders, conflicts of interest and asset declarations should be subject to public scrutiny. Evidence, harm to the public and the seriousness of a case must determine investigative priorities, rather than political instructions.<\/p>\n

The government can also provide a clear account of pending complaints. It should regularly publish aggregate information showing which complaints are under preliminary review, which have advanced to detailed investigation, why others were closed and where charges have been filed. Some investigations require confidentiality, but secrecy cannot become an excuse for leaving complaints unresolved indefinitely. Citizens expect accountability in the process as well as results.<\/p>\n

Everyday public services are another front in the fight against corruption. Small bribes involving citizenship documents, land, taxes, permits, hospitals and local services teach citizens to distrust the state in their daily lives. Clear service deadlines, digital records, mandatory receipts and effective complaint mechanisms can reduce such practices. If these systemic reforms do not accompany action against prominent officials, the campaign\u2019s effect will remain limited.<\/p>\n

The fight against corruption must not become a means of attacking political opponents. Allegations made without evidence can destroy the reputation of innocent people and weaken investigations into genuine wrongdoing. Gathering evidence that will withstand scrutiny in court matters more than presenting arrests as achievements. If the government itself fails to follow due process, the public will lose confidence in its campaign.<\/p>\n

Making corruption the first priority does not mean promising to resolve every case immediately. The government can begin now by strengthening the independence and capacity of investigative bodies, making its own decisions transparent, disclosing the status of older complaints and applying the law equally to powerful people. The campaign will become credible when the government also permits scrutiny of itself and its allies.<\/p>\n

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