Pressure on Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak Over Visa Scandal

Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is facing intense political pressure from opposition parties to resign following his alleged involvement in a controversial visa scandal.

Visa Scandal Puts Home Ministry Under Fire

Minister Lekhak, known for his calm demeanour and legal background, played a vital role in Nepal’s peace process and constitution drafting. Despite his reputation, he now finds himself accused of shielding corruption within the immigration department at the international airport.

Even members from within his own party are reportedly demanding his resignation. This scandal is shaking the political establishment once again, drawing comparisons to previous high-profile cases.

Notably, another senior leader from Lekhak’s party, Bal Krishna Khand, is currently in judicial custody over the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Similarly, Rabi Lamichhane, a former Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, is also behind bars.

This pattern has raised deeper questions: Why are powerful leaders often drawn to the Home Ministry? And why does the ministry seem to bring downfall instead of political gains?

The Home Ministry: Power, Responsibility, and Risk

Experts suggest that the Home Ministry's expansive reach makes it both powerful and perilous. It oversees Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and all 77 District Administration Offices, giving it unmatched nationwide influence.

Former Home Minister Shakti Basnet, a Maoist leader, described the ministry as a double-edged sword. "The ministry attracts leaders due to its power and prestige. But in terms of duty, it’s a place of immense responsibility. There's not only praise—there's also a high risk of criticism," he said.

Basnet added that enforcing law and order means facing dissatisfaction from multiple fronts. "You gain both well-wishers and opponents," he noted, emphasising the ministry’s unique political pressure.

Another former Home Minister, speaking anonymously, shared that the visa scandal has reignited the issue of power misuse. He stated, “The Home Ministry is unlike any other. There's pressure not just from the opposition but from one’s own party too.”

He continued, “What matters most is whether the minister can handle that pressure. Sometimes ministers get dragged into controversies even without direct action—due to the environment and circumstances they operate in.”

As the political temperature rises, it remains to be seen whether Minister Lekhak can weather the storm or will be the latest to fall from grace in Nepal’s ever-turbulent Home Ministry.