Security risk poses threat to citizen’s fundamental rights: Home Minister Lekhak

LUMBINI: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has stressed the need to ensure strengthened peace and security for protecting the Constitution and enhancing the democratic system.

He warned that any issues in peace and security would directly pose a threat to the fundamental rights of the citizens guaranteed by the Constitution.  “In such a situation, the citizens’ fundamental rights may get violated and vanish.”

Inaugurating a province-level security seminar co-organised by the Home Ministry and Ministry for Internal Affairs and Law in the Lumbini Province in Rupandehi today, the Minister said peace and security are pre-conditions to implement the citizens’ fundamental rights including the right to live with dignity.

Revenue leakage, smuggling, trans-border crime, road accidents, drug peddling, suicide, and cybercrime remain major security threats in Lumbini, he said, directing the authorities concerned to take measures to control such offenses. “However, criticism within the legal jurisdictions is entertained in democracy.”

Expressing his concerns over rising cases of financial and economic crimes in the country, he said such issues should be responded to by a law not by the masses.

He stressed that none has an excuse to make the existing constitution a failure.   The proper implementation of the Constitution with a focus on durable peace, good governance, development, and prosperity, the Minister added.

Stating that press freedom is interconnected to the citizens’ right to information, he said the implementation of total freedom of the press should not be hindered from anywhere.  “People’s right to information should be fully implemented.”

He took time to say that a present equation of two major political parties was formed to control corruption and promote good governance and the rule of law and this coalition between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML will last till the 2084 BS.

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya urged the federal government to implement the single and concurrent rights of the Constitution.  He said in absence of police adjustment in the province, there are challenges from maintaining peace and order to enriching the police by resources. He drew the attention of the federal government towards that end and an urgency to establish the Province Investigation Bureau.

He went on to say that the promotion of good governance and the intensification of a campaign against corruption are the priorities of the province government.

Province Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Adesh Kumar Agrwal, Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi, chiefs of security agencies under the Ministry of Home, and province security chiefs are present at the event.