KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Kulman Ghising, the former Nepal Electricity Authority’s Managing Director, has urged his supporters to refrain from staging demonstrations in his favor on the streets. 

Issuing a statement on Saturday, the former NEA’s Managing Director Ghising appealed to his supporters not to assemble on the streets to stage demonstrations demanding his reappointment in view of the COVID-19 pandemic that the country faces at the moment. 

The statement comes in the wake of growing protests organized by his fans in various parts of the country including in Kathmandu demanding his reappointment in the post of top executive of the state-owned electricity generator and distributor that has remained vacant since last week. 

After serving as the NEA’s Managing Director for four-years, his tenure ended last week. Despite wide-spread public pressure to extend Ghising’s term, the government-led by Prime Minister K P Oli did not reappoint him. 

His fans have taken to the streets in various parts of the country to stage protests against the government’s refusal to renew his contract and give him another four-year to serve with the NEA. 

Earlier on Friday, the police even used force to disperse the protestors gathered at Maitighar area in Kathmandu, demanding the reappointment of Ghising as the NEA Managing Director. 

Breaking his silence, Ghising urged them to avoid assembling on the streets citing fears of the spread COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I have completed the four-year tenure by fulfilling discharging my responsibilities that the Government of Nepal had provided me during my appointment,” said Ghising, in his statement. 

His achievement of eliminating the crippling hours-long daily load-shedding from the country has propelled him to a ‘celebrity’ status.  However, the government’s decision not to reappoint as the NEA’s chief has angered his supporters.  

“Since the continuity or the change of the leadership of the Nepal Electricity Authority is regular and obvious, we all have to accept it [the outcome],” he said. “As the government has the sole authority to make the appointment at the NEA, it would make the decision at an appropriate time,” added Ghising, urging his supporters to refrain from joining the demonstrations. 

 
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