Wikipedia

Durga Prasai

Durga Prasai (Nepali: दुर्गा प्रसाई) Is a Nepalese political activist, right wing political figure, medical entrepreneur and loan defaulter. He was charged for loan default worth NPR 5.57 billion lend by 9 different commercial banks of nepal to establish the medical college B&C Hospital in Jhapa.[1][2]According to Nepal Rastra Bank sources, Prasai owes 760 million from Nabil Bank,1.2 billion from Prabhu Bank, 1 billion from Kumari Bank (then NCC Bank ), 700 million from Rastriya Banijya Bank, 650 million from Nepal Investment Mega Bank (then Mega Bank), 153 million from Lumbini Development Bank, 110 million from  Goodwill Finance and 1 billion rupees from Global IME Bank (then Janata Bank).[3]

Durga Prasai
Prasai during his speech in Mirchaiya in November 2023
Born (1971-05-05) 5 May 1971 (age 52)
Taplejung, Nepal
NationalityNepalese
Years active2016-present
Known forPolitical campaigning
Financial Debtor
Websitehttps://durgaprasai.com/


He leads frequent social and political campaigns in all state provinces against the Nepal's existing federal democratic government and calls for its overthrow in favor of an amendment that would reinstate the constitutional monarchy.[4]

He is currently serving as an Executive Director of B&C Hospital and a private investor of Taksha Shila education foundation, both located in Jhapa.[5][6] In March 2024, Supreme Court of Nepal directed the Medical Education Commission and Kathmandu University with an issue order to mandates granting the medical affiliation permission to the Prasai B&C Hospital to run the MBBS classes after his writ petition to the court.[7][8][9][10]

Political career edit

In early 2017, an image circulated on social media of Durga Prasai dining alongside KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leaders of Nepal’s prominent communist parties. Prasai claims that this luncheon at his residence played a pivotal role in unifying CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) to form a left alliance, which would later lead the government by securing 174 out of 275 seats in 2017 Nepalese general election.[11] During the gathering, the trio was seen enjoying Jumli Marshi Rice, a type of Himalayan rice renowned for its cultivation in record altitudes,[12] stimulating heightened demand for this rice variant in Nepali market.[13]

Prasai, who was formerly sympathetic to the Maoists, was elected to represent the CPN UML in the October 2021 statute conference. After receiving a nomination for the central committee in December 2021, Prasai was given the position of deputy head of the party's industry, trade, and supply section but was expelled from the party in February 2023, after he publicly started making remarks in favor of monarchy, Hindu state and abolition of federalism.[14][15][16]

Even though Prasai currently holds far-right views on Nepali political spectrum, he is known to frequently change his ideology to suit the populist sentiment.[17]

Political campaigns edit

In his political rallies, Prasai also demands to cancel all private loans and to nationalize all banks and industries owned by Marwari people in Nepal. In March 2023 district administration offices were directed by the Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to stop illicit activity directed towards banks and financial institutions (BFIs) created by the Durga Prasai nationwide campaign.[18]

 
Prasai during his first political campaign held in Kathmandu, November 2023

In 23 November 2023 he announced a political campaign in Kathmandu titled Nation, Nationality, Religion-Culture, and Citizen Rescue Campaign.[19][20] The group demanded restoration of constitutional monarchy and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu kingdom again. Both of these were abolished in 2008.[21]The planned events for Yuwa Sangh and Durga Prasai on November 23 was given a separate venue for demonstration by the District Administration Office of Kathmandu due to concerns over safety and security.[22] However, on the day of demonstration, the two sides clashed, and police intervened to deter the crowds.[23] On the second day of the demonstration, Prasai was kept in unofficial house arrest.[24][25]

Legal issues and controversies edit

In March 2024, A four-person committee led by the joint secretary of the ministry, established by the Ministry of Home Affairs look into the issuance and extension of a weapon permit to the Durga Prasai under the firearms licensing policy of Nepal's Firearms and Ammunition Act 1962.[26] On March 18, 2024, two of Prasai's personal assistants and support staffs Deepak Khadka and Raj Kumar Dhital, were taken into custody from the Supreme Court's grounds, armed with a semiautomatic rifle and one hundred ammunitions. They were eventually freed by a bench consisting of Nahakul Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel.[27][28]

In 2020 a warrant was issued by Bhaktapur police for the arrest of Durga Prasai based on the defamation complaint filed by Shri Krishna Giri, vice-chairman of Medical Education Commission. Prasai had accused Giri of demanding NPR200 million to get approval of affiliation of B & C Medical College at Jhapa. Prasai, counter, filed a case against Giri at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority and the Department of Money Laundering investigation. [29]

In July 2018 Prasai was accused (Blame) of defamation after making public remarks implying that female Nepali students in Bangladesh were having affairs with their professors to obtain medical degrees. The National Human Rights Commission received a formal complaint against Prasai from Rajyalaxmi Shrestha, Jamuna Subedi, and Ambika Karki.[30][31][32] The Libel and Slander Act, 2016 and the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2027 were invoked to demand severe legal action against Prasai for making such a callous remark, much to the dismay of the parents and female Nepali students studying medicine in Bangladesh.[33][34]

References edit

  1. ^ "Bankers fear Durga Prasai's campaign could encourage mass defaults by borrowers". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  2. ^ Republica. "Durga Prasai vows to liberate debtors as PM Dahal warns of taking action against loan defaulters". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  3. ^ author (2020-06-10). "Durga Prasai owes Rs 5.57 bln to BFIs; yet to pay interest to Kumari and Global". en.nepalkhabar.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "Upcoming UML-Durga Prasai showdown puts government on security alert". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  5. ^ Republica. "Director Prasai claims that govt yet to pay Rs 450 million under insurance scheme to his hospital". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  6. ^ "Takshashila Progressive English School". Takshashila Progressive English School. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  7. ^ "SC mandates affiliation for Durga Prasai's B&C Medical College". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  8. ^ "Supreme Court clears way for Durga Prasai's college to run MBBS classes". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  9. ^ admin (2024-03-25). "SC orders for affiliation to Durga Prasai's B&C Medical College". Desh Sanchar. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  10. ^ "SC directs Medical Education Commission to grant affiliation to B & C Medical College". Nepal Press. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  11. ^ "'हजुरबा–नाति' नातादेखि मुठभेडसम्म". Ukaalo (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  12. ^ "Cold Tolerant Rice (Oryza sativa) | Himalayan Crops". Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  13. ^ "खाद्य कम्पनीका पसलमा मार्सी चामल किन्नेको लर्को". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  14. ^ "UML expels Durga Prasai from the party". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  15. ^ Republica. "UML expels its central member Durga Prasai". My Republica. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  16. ^ "UML expels central member Durga Prasai". UML expels central member Durga Prasai. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  17. ^ "UML expels Durga Prasai from the party". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  18. ^ Shrestha, Sajira. "Home ministry instructs CDOs to stay on high alert amid Durga Prasai's mega campaign against BFIs". My Republica. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  19. ^ "Maitighar-Baneshwar stretch prohibited for protests". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  20. ^ "Protest on November 23 is for change of system: Durga Prasai". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  21. ^ "Industrialist's Hindu pitch shakes Nepal politics, calls for restoration of monarchy". Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  22. ^ "DAO Kathmandu not to allow concurrent programs by Yuwa Sangh and Durga Prasai at same venue". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  23. ^ "UML youth wing cadres, Prasai supporters clash at Balkhu". Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  24. ^ Republica. "Police deployed at Prasai's residence, supporters allege attempt of detention". My Republica. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  25. ^ Today, N. L. (2023-11-24). "Govt prohibits Durga Prasai from exiting his residence". Nepal Live Today. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  26. ^ "Government investigates Durga Prasai's weapons license issuance". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  27. ^ "Home ministry forms committee to investigate gun license obtained by Durga Prasai". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  28. ^ "Two bodyguards of Durga Prasai arrested with gun from Supreme Court premises". Setopati. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  29. ^ "Arrest warrant issued against B&C executive director Durga Prasai". Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  30. ^ "Durga Prasai faces slander charge". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  31. ^ "Administration orders arrest of Durga Prasai on defamation charges – KHUMBULE". Archived from the original on 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  32. ^ "NSU lodges complaint against Durga Prasai at Women Commission". NSU lodges complaint against Durga Prasai at Women Commission. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  33. ^ "Administration orders arrest of Durga Prasai on defamation charges". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  34. ^ "Arrest warrant issued against B&C executive director Durga Prasai". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
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