The employees of all ministries in Province 2 halted their works on Monday, demanding investigation into the alleged assault on Industry, Forest and Tourism Secretary Bidyanath Jha by Financial Affairs and Planning Minister Bijay Yadav.

The agitating staff tied black armbands in protest of the incident and called for a fair and independent probe. The government employees of Dhanusha district also joined the protest.  

“No minister has the right to beat a government employee. If an employee fails to perform his duty or is found involved in unethical practice, then there is the provision of departmental action,” said Bechan Mahato, section officer at the Ministry of Industry, Forest and Tourism.

He warned that the employees’ protest would continue unless Yadav is punished for his action.

The protesting employees are preparing to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Mohammad Lalbabu Raut, demanding action against Yadav.

Yadav had allegedly slapped Jha for not referring his favoured NGO for an entrepreneurship programme announced by the federal government on poverty alleviation. Jha claimed that Yadav and other ministers were enraged at him because he refused to indulge in unfair practice while shortlisting the NGOs for the programme.

Yadav has refuted the allegation and instead accused Jha of hurling abuses at him in front of Speaker Saroj Yadav and other government officials, disregarding the decorum.

Jha, who was admitted in Janakpur-based Care Medical Hospital on Sunday evening, was discharged on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Province 2 government has formed a committee, led by Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Gyanendra Yadav, to investigate into the case.