Government Says RSP Directed IGP Responsibility Change, Party Spokesperson Denies Giving Such Instruction

Kathmandu, November 4, 2026: Conflicting statements have emerged from the government and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) over whether the party played a role in the decision to remove Dan Bahadur Karki from the leadership of Nepal Police.

Government spokesperson and Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel said after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting that the government had received direction from the party regarding the need to act on a sensitive issue amid changing circumstances.

However, RSP spokesperson Jagadish Kharel later denied that the party had instructed the government to remove Karki—or any specific individual—from a position.

The contrasting statements have created questions over what role, if any, the party played in the leadership change.

Government Spokesperson: ‘Direction Had Come From the Party’

Explaining the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Pokharel said there had been calls from different sides for the government to respond to sensitive issues.

He said a direction had also come from the party that the government needed to take action in the changing circumstances, and that Karki’s responsibility was subsequently changed.

Pokharel repeatedly stressed that the decision should not be considered disciplinary action against Karki.

According to him, Karki has instead been given another sensitive responsibility as a special security adviser to the Prime Minister.

RSP Spokesperson Denies Giving Such Direction

Shortly after Pokharel’s remarks, RSP spokesperson Jagadish Kharel offered a different account.

Kharel said the party supports the Prime Minister in running the government but does not instruct the government to appoint or remove particular individuals.

He explicitly denied that the RSP had given any instruction to remove Karki.

Kharel said the party neither gives such individual-specific directions nor had done so in this case.

What Did RSP Actually Ask the Government to Do?

Kharel connected the confusion to a separate controversy involving the arrest of journalists over a news report.

According to Kharel, the party had called for action against those responsible for arresting the journalists and those who had ordered the arrests.

However, he argued that if Karki’s reassignment was connected to that demand, the government should clearly say so.

Kharel pointed out that the government itself has described Karki’s move as a change of responsibility rather than disciplinary action.

He therefore called on the government to provide further clarification about the connection between the party’s earlier demand and Wednesday’s decision.

Manoj KC Appointed New Police Chief

Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting decided to appoint AIG Dr. Manoj KC as the new Inspector General of Nepal Police.

Karki, meanwhile, has been moved from the police leadership to the newly assigned role of special security adviser to the Prime Minister.

The government has maintained that Karki has not been punished, describing the move as a reassignment of responsibilities.

Two Different Accounts Now Need Clarification

At this stage, the statements establish that the government spokesperson and the RSP spokesperson have presented different versions of the party’s involvement.

Pokharel said a direction had come from the party in relation to the need for government action, while Kharel said the party had not directed the government to remove or retain any particular individual.

Neither statement by itself establishes exactly what communication took place between the party and government before the Cabinet decision.

Further clarification from the government or party leadership would therefore be needed to determine whether Pokharel was referring to a general direction to take action on a sensitive issue or a specific instruction concerning Karki.