Patan (Lalitpur), Dec 4: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, on Thursday visited the Banglamukhi Temple, a famous religious shrine located in Patan, Lalitpur.
The visit, which took place on the occasion of Ya Mari Punhi, a cultural festival of the Newar community, came as a surprise to locals. During the visit, the Minister interacted with residents, wherein they shared their concerns and expectations with him.
Local resident Pranab Shrestha said they were pleased to find the Minister in their neighborhood and to be able to speak with him directly. “Previously, we had to go to Singha Durbar to meet any minister,” he said.
Another local, Renu Maharjan, who was busy preparing Yo Mari, a traditional Newar delicacy, in the Guthi area of the Banglamukhi Temple, was surprised to see the Minister suddenly standing in front of her. As far as she knows, she had never witnessed such an unannounced visit by a sitting minister before.
Similarly, 87-year-old Babulal Maharjan, who was sitting on his home’s stairs enjoying the sun, said it felt both strange and special to interact with the Minister right at his doorstep.
On the occasion, the Minister said he received suggestions from the people’s representatives of Ward 11 as well as from locals regarding the government’s responsibilities towards citizens. He added that the government formed in the spirit of the Gen Z movement is attentive to citizens’ concerns.
Local representative Juwan Tandukar urged the Minister to address the management of overhead electric and telephone cables along public spaces, including roadways, and to improve communication services in the area. The Minister said the government looks forward to receiving public feedback, support, and trust to deliver more effectively in the days ahead.
