KATHMANDU, Feb 11: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, has said that the General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Prem Nath Thakur, has been suspended after he allegedly asked for a bribe from Thai Smile Airways.
At an event organized by the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu on Friday, Minister Kirati said that Thakur was suspended for demanding bribe money from Thai Smile Airlines stating that the amount has to be given to the minister.
TIA General Manager Thakur suspended
“I have just suspended the General Manager of TIA. The country cannot tolerate such irresponsible acts from someone taking charge of an authorized position,” said the minister.
Minister Kiranti clarified that he will not take a single penny from anyone and action will be taken against anyone involved in such bribery cases.
Spokesperson at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rajendra Kumar KC, said the ministry took action after receiving an audio tape from an anonymous source revealing Thakur's conversation with the representative of Thai Smile Airways seeking illegal benefits.
Minister Kiranti said that he will not create a panic situation by changing employees but needs the support from the employees. He also said that the ministry has prepared an integrated action plan to address the problems in the tourism sector and that ten action plans were put in place in ten places to stop bribery.
Minister Kiranti also instructed the NTB to come up with an action plan to bring millions of tourists to Nepal. He said that the ministry is willing to support a proposal to build a Hindu university in Pashupati area.
