DAMBER K SHRESTHA

It has already been two months since the UML quit government but your resignation hasn't been accepted yet. Do you think you made a mistake by resigning?
The prime minister hasn't accepted our resignations yet. He says the government hasn't finished its 'mission' yet and even told us to reconsider our resignation. Yes, I think it was a mistake to resign. The polls may have been a success but the process of bringing about a proper republic is still going on. That is why we shouldn't have resigned after the polls just because of our loss. The party made the decision, and to keep up with my party, I resigned too.

Do you still go to the ministry?
Since resigning, I don't go to the ministry. On my way to the parliamentary party office, I sometimes go in but as a commoner and not as a minister.

How are you doing the ministry's work then?
If there is urgent ministerial work then I do it. I can't even say I'm not a minister anymore because our resignation hasn't been accepted. I untangle the problems.

Instead of working from home, why not just go to the ministry?
I have not been taking my office file home to do the work. Whenever I am there, I do the work.

Why haven't you also resigned your quarters, car or guard?
I have already lost Rs 16,000. Immediately after resigning, I rented an apartment at Nakkhu chok, costing Rs 8,000 a month. I even moved some of my things. But without my resignation being accepted, it seems I cannot let the guard go. I could have let go of the car but it would be difficult to take my guard to my new quarters. The owner of that apartment keeps asking when I will move. I am in a difficult situation now.

Your resignation hasn't been refused either, and at a time when the resignation should have been effective as soon as it was tendered, isn't all the work you've done illegal?
This is not a time when the work I did as minister can be discredited. That is why we have handed in our resignations to our party only.

It seems the country can even run without ministers?
Even half the ministers can run the country it seems. I told our leaders that either our resignations should be accepted or a situation should be created where we can go back to work. Right now, our situation is like that of a person hanging over a cliff.