Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s education adviser Reshu Aryal has resigned citing her reservations over Mayor Balendra Shah’s recent moves.

Announcing her resignation via social media, Aryal stated that Shah’s recent moves caused ‘conflict of interest’ and that she thought it was unethical for her to stay in the position.

Talking to the Post, Aryal said that Shah lacked the ability to adhere to democratic practices while taking any decision or action and that his decisions were mainly driven by the crowd’s response.

“To be democratic is to coordinate, discuss and collaborate with all the sides involved,” Aryal said. “The HISSAN [Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Assocation Nepal] education fair was organised after acquiring proper permissions from the Ministry of Education. There was no need to send the city police to forcibly shut down the entire programme.”

The KMC had last week abruptly stopped the eighth edition of the fair.

According to her, even after repeatedly bringing up the issue of forcibly removing street vendors and hampering the livelihood of small-scale businesses using the city police, Aryal’s calls were unheard.

“Using force to ‘manage’ such people, while videos of authorities thrashing the individuals to enforce the instruction float around, raises the question of ethics and morality of the metropolis,” Aryal said.

“Education and morals go hand-in-hand. Everybody has the right to live with dignity. If the instructions are to be implemented, the concerned individuals should be conveyed proper information in advance.”

Aryal stated that those businesses found running illegally, or those that do not abide by the set rules, must be regulated and taken actions against by the concerned authorities within the metropolis after sending a valid notice beforehand. Shah, however, has failed to do so, instead being driven by the public’s reaction.

“A mayor is the head of a local government. The person assuming the said position must be open to input from different stakeholders,” Aryal added. “Shah’s habit of discarding any input given by the stakeholders is undemocratic and issuing statements through social media causes panic among the people.”

Furthermore, Aryal also objected to Shah’s recent decision to ban all Indian films from screening within the metropolitan area. The decision, she says, has caused panic among cinema hall owners, many of whom have decided to take the issue to the judiciary.

Aryal, wife of Bhaskar Dhungana, the founding director of QFX’s parent company Team Quest, stated that it would be unethical for her to continue in the office since she is personally related to the cinema business as well.

“Being on both sides, the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s, my morals do not allow me to continue in the position.”