NITESH MATHEMA

Minister Karima Begum violated official decorum and broke the law when she abused Parsa Chief District Offier Durga Prasad Bhandari. It was a criminal act unbecoming of a state minister.

She barged into his office with 40 to 50 goons and slapped him several times, alleging that he did not send the vehicle she had demanded.

The minister has embarrassed the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and the coalition government.

Although government officials and the home ministry have condemned the act, the council of ministers and prime minister remain quiet. The cabinet should remove her from her post and press legal charges.

The legal charges will stick because she admitted the act, even daring to say it was punishment for disobeying a minister's orders, and it was done in public. With this evidence, the CA chair can immediately file a public offence charge against her. Not only will this be just punishment, it will also serve to remind political leaders that everyone is equal before the law and boost morale among government employees.

Government employees are servants to the public, not political leaders.

Begum also set a bad precedent. There are legal means to punish government officials who don't perform their duties. In resorting to abuse the CDO instead, she was not only unethical, but took the law into her own hands.

In such circumstances, government action won't be enough. Her party should seek clarification and take necessary action too.