Kathmandu, November 3
Weeks before the process to select the new governor of the country’s central bank begins officially, Nepal Rastra Bank has begun a discussion on firing one of its two deputy governors, which will effectively bar him from the race.
Sources say Shiva Raj Shrestha is losing his job as Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is not happy with him. The central bank is preparing to charge him of non-cooperating in various anti-money laundering investigations.
Khatiwada communicated his ‘order’ to fire Shrestha to the governor Chiranjibi Nepal via Finance Secretary Rajan Khanal recently, the sources claim. Khanal is a member of the NRB board on behalf of the ministry.
Shrestha, however, says he did not have anything to cooperate in the issues as it was the governor’s jurisdiction. “This is a ploy to trap me,” he claims, “Maybe because I am also a candidate for the governor.”
Shrestha is said to be close to the main opposition Nepali Congress party. Another deputy governor of the central bank, Chinta Mani Siwakoti, is a ruling Nepal Communist Party loyal. He is also in the race for the top position.
Incumbent governor Chiranjibi Nepal is retiring in March 2020.
Though the NRB board is meeting today, it will take a few more days to take a decision to fire Shrestha, an official informs.
