KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal said that the government formed during a period of turbulence following Gen Z–led protests on September 8 and 9 has succeeded in restoring normalcy and stabilizing the country’s security environment.
Minister Aryal said the current government formed with a mandate to hold elections is eager to hand over power to an elected administration after successful completion of elections to the House of Representatives (Hor) scheduled for March 5.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Province-level Security Conference organized jointly by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Lumbini Province in Butwal on Tuesday, Aryal said the current peace and security was achieved through a collective perseverance and tireless effort. He stressed that overseeing a fair election and strengthening governance remains the government’s core responsibility.
“We are fully committed to maintaining good governance and delivering the election as our central mandate,” Aryal said. “There are voices claiming elections cannot or will not take place. These statements are made for public consumption. The government will respond through action, not rhetoric.”
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He rejected claims that the current administration was politically engineered or motivated by private ambition. “This is not a government formed under anyone’s grace, nor with personal desire,” Aryal said. “We assumed responsibility during an extraordinary vacuum. We have no personal interests or temptations. Our focus is singular—strengthening the foundations of good governance and handing over power to an elected government in a way that no future actor can undermine.”
He also warned against a political culture of blame-shifting, noting that even the younger generation has begun questioning institutional conduct. “If we refuse to correct ourselves and continue interpreting right and wrong for convenience, we cannot rule out another crisis,” he said.
Calling the security conference a key step in preparing for a “fearless, impartial and peaceful” election, Aryal said the forum would synthesize Lumbini Province’s security challenges and finalize strategies required for the polls. He expressed confidence that the discussions would help reassure the public about election security.
The home minister highlighted that both provincial and federal governments have critical roles in maintaining law and order. He said a mechanism has already been established to ensure provincial engagement before, during, and after the elections. “I believe the province will now prepare and implement its own strengthened security plan in line with the national security framework already endorsed by the Central Security Committee,” he added.
Addressing concerns raised by political parties regarding stolen weapons and escaped inmates, Aryal said several weapons had been retrieved and many fugitives rearrested through special operations.
Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya, speaking at the inauguration, said the provincial government was equally committed to uprooting corruption and promoting good governance.
Referring to the incident of September 9, he claimed Gen Z youths were not responsible and that “outside elements” had infiltrated the protests. He warned that elections scheduled for March 5 could face difficulties if stolen weapons are not fully recovered and fugitives not apprehended on time.
In his welcome remarks, Joint Secretary Suresh Panthi said all layers of government currently operate under extraordinary circumstances and that ensuring peace and security leading to the March 5 election is the primary responsibility of civil servants. Panthi expressed hope that the conference would help identify all major security challenges and chart an actionable provincial strategy.
