In a blatant disregard to the summon issued by State Management Committee of the Legislature Parliament, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit ‘lied’ to the committee stating that he was ill to avoid a meeting scheduled to discuss the ordinance on integration of civil servants. 

The committee had summoned Minister Pandit to attend a discussion on the ordinance at the committee meeting hall in Singha Durbar at 2pm on Wednesday. However, the Minister informed the committee through Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) secretary Dinesh Thapaliya that he was ill and could not attend the meeting when he was actually busy meeting party cadres among others. 

Minister Pandit’s personal secretary Manoj Rai, talking to the Post, said that the Minister could not attend the committee meeting owing to his busy schedule. 

According to a source privy to the matter, Minister Pandit likely avoided the discussion in fear of being criticised. The committee meet is underway.

MoFAGA secretary Thapaliya had informed the committee that Minister Pandit sent him to the meeting as he had ill health. 

Meanwhile, Committee Chairperson Shashi Shrestha said that it was sad that the Federal Affairs Minister did not take part in the discussion even though the meeting was planned following multiple discussions with Minister Pandit.