Kathmandu:Sudan Gurung, Nepal's Home Minister, stepped down on Wednesday, April 22, saying he had a moral duty to do so and that there needed to be a fair investigation into the concerns raised about his finances. He quit just 26 days after taking office. He said he was leaving in a post on social media.
"Ethics are more important to me than any job," said Sudan Gurung.Gurung said in a Facebook post that he was resigning because he had taken public criticism seriously and wanted to uphold ethical standards in public life. "I, Sudan Gurung, have been doing my job as Home Minister with the highest level of honesty since Chaitra 13, 2082 (March 26, 2026). "I have been taking the questions, comments, and public concerns that people have raised about my shares and related issues very seriously lately," he said.
He said that public trust must come before holding office and that integrity is very important. "For me, morals are more important than any job, and there is no power greater than the trust of the people." He said, "The 'Gen Z' movement of today, which calls for good governance, openness, and accountability, has the same message: public life must be clean, and leaders must be accountable."
Gurung also talked about the country's past sacrifices and the larger political picture, saying that accountability is important when questions come up. "When people ask questions about a government that was built on the blood and sacrifice of my 46 brothers and sisters, the only answer is morality," Gurung said.
He said that stepping down would make things more open and avoid any conflicts of interest. He said, "I have resigned from the position of Home Minister effective today to make sure that the investigation into the issues involving me is fair and to avoid any conflicts of interest while in office."
He told the people, the media, and the young people to be honest and responsible in public life. "I have done what I had to do morally. Now, I ask my dear media friends, all Nepali brothers and sisters, and young people: if we really want things to change, we all need to follow the path of truth, honesty, and self-purification. Eventually, people will find out where some media workers keep their "sweet shares." The former Nepali Home Minister said, "Those who want 'Ram Rajya' (ideal governance) must also have the courage to give up and show moral strength."
Sudhan Gurung corruption allegationsGurung had become a leading voice in the 2025 Gen Z protests in Nepal against elite political structures centered on anti-corruption.
The development is seen as a setback for the government of Prime Minister Balen Shah amid mounting pressure from opposition parties and civil society groups demanding accountability.
People were looking into Gurung because of supposed business ties to industrialist Deepak Bhatt and suspected bad investments in micro-insurance companies. Reports say that investigations found suspicious financial transactions both before and during his time in office.
The accusations led to protests and more calls for him to step down. Critics pointed to a possible conflict of interest and raised questions about the honesty of his financial dealings.
Minister of Labor firedOn April 9, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Sha fired Deepak Kumar Sah, the Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, for disciplinary reasons at the request of his party.
The Prime Minister's office said that Sah was fired because the party found him to be in violation of its rules of conduct and discipline.
The commission's report says that Sah abused his position to keep his wife, Junu Shrestha, on the Health Insurance Board, a job that had been mostly inactive for a long time. On Wednesday, the commission sent its report to the party, which suggested what to do.