KATHMANDU, March 7: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)'s employee organizations are divided over the remarks made by Energy Minister Deepak Khadka against NEA MD Kul Man Ghising.
The four employee organizations, which previously stood together over the dispute on outstanding dues for dedicated and trunk lines, are now divided over Minister Khadka's controversial statement.
Addressing a meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Minister Khadka claimed that Nepal Electricity Authority’s Managing Director Kulman Ghising did not contribute to ending load shedding in the country and that India deserved the credit instead.
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On Friday, the Maoist-affiliated employee organizations and the NEA’s Employee Welfare Council, affiliated with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party jointly issued a press release condemning the minister’s statement.
They stated, "Thousands of employees at the authority worked tirelessly and the Nepali people acted wisely to end the persistent darkness, celebrating the end of load shedding as a moment of national pride. However, a responsible individual’s statement in the esteemed parliament, claiming that Nepal did not play a role in ending load shedding, insults not only the NEA’s permanent, temporary and contractual employees but also the entire sovereign Nepali population."
The organizations expressed their disappointment over Minister Khadka's questioning of the NEA 's profits. The press release stated, "Minister Khadka's claim that the NEA's profit is merely on paper undermines the entire accounting system of the NEA, the financial report approved by its Board of Directors and the audit report of the Office of the Auditor General. Presenting such false and misleading information in the esteemed parliament is deeply concerning."
The two organizations have accused Minister Khadka of trying to demoralize Managing Director Ghising for not following his directive on employee transfers and for rejecting interference in other matters. The employee organizations affiliated to Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have declined to issue a statement opposing the minister.
