Karima Begum, Minister of State for Agriculture and Co-operatives, has publicly slapped the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa district, who had come to the airport to receive her. Not only did she slap CDO Durga Prasad Bhandari but when media asked the minister for her account of the incident she proudly said that she dragged the CDO by the collar and slapped him on the face five times. This is uncivilized, inhuman and deplorable to say the very least. Karima, you have disgraced yourself and the public position that you hold-- SHAME ON YOU. The reason for the face-slapping is even more outrageous. She accused the CDO of not receiving her phone call "properly" and not controlling crime in the district. But the real reason behind her anger, according to officials, is that she thought the CDO sent an "old vehicle" to take her from Simara Airport. Begum should be reprimanded by the prime minister for her gross misconduct, and her party, the Madhesi People´s Right Forum (Democratic), should recall her from the government.
But then this is not the first time that civil servants have been mistreated in such unbecoming fashion. In July 2006, then Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Matrika Yadav humiliated the Local Development Officer (LDO) of Lalitpur, Dandu Raj Ghimire, locking him up in an office toilet for hours after summoning him to the ministry. Similarly, Young Communist League cadres thrashed Dolakha CDO Uddhav Bahadur Thapa and set fire to office buildings in August 2007. In both these cases civil servant unions had demanded action against the culprits and categorically asked for a public apology from Yadav. But neither did any apology come nor was action taken against any of them. Impunity for such inhuman conduct is unthinkable in a civilized society.
Coming back to the Karima Begum case, the fact that CDOs are always expected to receive and see off a minister or a high-profile politician visiting the district is itself a big problem. Bear in mind that there are 44 ministers in the government and more so-called high-profile politicians who show up in the districts every now and then on private visits and to attend party functions. And every time they go to a district, they expect the CDO and high-level security officials to receive them at the airport, escort them to the hotel-- sometimes even book the hotel room and clear the bills. This is an unnecessary waste of resources. We understand the security needs of some ministers and politicians. But to arrange for their security doesn´t mean the top officials in the district should line up at the airport every time a political bigwig comes visiting. The cabinet should immediately pass directives discouraging civil servants from engaging in such profligate and unnecessary rituals
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Dear editor your thoughts are very legitimate and genuine, no in the world a civilized society can slap the district level officer in a humiliating manner as she did and dare to admit publicly of her action. As you have mentioned in your editorial that we do have a old tradition of offering higher honor to the high ranking officials specially one residing in Kathmandu valley. Lets also not forget that there are always two sides of the story. Yes, Ms. Begam has stated her story clearly. I agree
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tetri
this incident has raised a question on ministers. they ought to be working for the country instead it appears to me that they place their personal benefits among all the other priorities. we need stronger, robust and powerful Lawsuits so that culprits of these shameful acts are put behind the bars without bailouts. we should not tolerate these cowardly acts because if we do, it will give rise to another incidents which will take our country to international arena of shame. i personally say, we n
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Niranjan Regmi
I am conveying few words here not in favor of the disgraceful act of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Karima Begum in Simara Airport last Tuesday who handcuffed the Chief District Officer of Parsa District openly in the public place. Who gave her right to carry out this discreditable and cowardice act? Yes, there is no question her present position is respectable for all the Nepalese but after all she also is a member of this society and the member of that societ
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gehendra chandra bhandari
When generalizing this types of incident we can infer that the leader lags professional attitude while discharging her duty. The proficiency can be obtained form the political schooling within their respective party where they are groomed to be a good leader. But hardly one can see such a prectice pravailed in the party she belongs. So it is hightime to get into action to avert such a incident in future. And Karima Begum should issue an expression of regret to thaw this incident in descent man
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Devashish Sharma
I hate u karima.I wonder how u become a minister who even don´t know how to behave and be polite with people.
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