The Sushila Karki government is taking a tougher stance against corruption and those responsible for killings of youths and students in the September 8 and 9 Gen Z protests.

To begin with, it is considering withholding the passports of some top leaders of major political parties who allegedly amassed illegal properties and cash, as well as those responsible for the killings of students and youths during the Gen Z protests in the second week of September. As many as 75 protesters who sustained injuries during the protests have died as of Thursday.

As per the demand of the Gen Z movement, the government has initiated the process of suspending the passports of some top leaders from parties including the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the CPN (Maoist Centre), said officials from various government departments who are privy to the preparations.

Some rounds of discussion have already taken place between various government agencies on withholding the passports of some leaders, a senior home ministry official said. The idea was discussed among the government agencies such as the Department of Passports and the Department of Immigration.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has hinted that top leaders of the political parties could face actions, ranging from passport suspension to arrest.

Speaking to journalists after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, he said that investigations would be conducted following the due legal process.

“The state’s investigative bodies have already become active. Relevant laws clearly outline what actions need to be taken. Things will proceed accordingly. The prime minister has already stated that the government will stand firmly against bad governance and corruption. If we don’t, then obviously the public will start raising questions.”

He clarified that actions will be taken based on the recommendations from the commission formed by the government.

Aryal said, “A commission has been formed. It will work independently to uncover the facts. Based on what is revealed, further steps will be taken. Once the process starts, some actions may happen immediately, while others may come after fact-finding by the commission."

Asked whether former heads of government would be implicated, he replied: “They will be, of course. The commission will determine who was involved.”

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel, who has been appointed government spokesperson, said various aspects of withholding the passports of top political leaders were being explored.

Speaking to journalists after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Kharel said state mechanisms are studying the issue of travel restrictions.

Though it is not immediately clear whose passports will be taken back, sources at the home ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office told the Post that they might be former prime ministers KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba, former ministers Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak and Dipak Khadka. More leaders including Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal are under scrutiny.

“On passport restrictions, especially in cases related to corruption, irregularities, and crimes big and small, the state mechanism is investigating,” Kharel said.

The government also decided to place the Revenue Investigation Department and the Money Laundering Investigation Department under the Ministry of Finance, and the National Intelligence Department under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In an unprecedented move, the Oli-led government in March 2018 had assigned the PMO those responsibilities as well.

By changing the business rules of the Cabinet, the Oli government had decided to involve the PMO on the issues of foreign policy, national security, and financial and economic crimes.

But the Cabinet meeting on Thursday decided to reverse the decision. Oli’s move to bring key departments under the purview of the PMO was criticised at that time, by the opposition Congress and experts. It was seen as aimed at keeping his political opponents in and outside the party honest.

Kharel said that Thursday’s Cabinet meeting had decided to bring the departments under the two ministries.

Meanwhile, the government has made it possible to register and renew online media outlets through the Department of Information.

Previously, under the most recent Oli government, a decision had been made to register and renew online media through the District Administration Office. That decision had met with fierce criticism.

Now, the interim government has reversed the decision, removing the requirement to go through the District Administration Office.

“According to the Printing and Publication Act of 2048 BS (1991 AD), a decision has been made to designate the director general of the Department of Information and Broadcasting as the focal authority for the purpose of registering online media outlets. There will be no need to go through the District Administration Office. From now on, registration can be done directly at the Department of Information,” said Minister Kharel.

Thursday's Cabinet meeting decided to provide an additional Rs500,000 to each family of dead victims. This is in addition to the financial assistance already announced for them.

Minister Kharel said: “For the Nepali citizens who died and have been identified during the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9, excluding prisoners and juvenile detainees who died while attempting to escape, the government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs1 million per victim, and an additional Rs500,000 for funeral rites, food, and related expenses.”