Nepal Scouts faces controversy amid allegations against director

KATHMANDU: Nepal Scouts, an organization established for social welfare, has recently found itself embroiled in controversy due to conflicts among its officials.

The organization, which aims to cultivate responsible, disciplined, self-reliant, and virtuous citizens, seems to be straying from its mission, with leadership disputes bringing its operations to a standstill.

A woman affiliated with Nepal Scouts has accused Director Ram Prasad Bhattarai of harassment, leading to his involvement in a major scandal. The woman alleges that Bhattarai has subjected female employees at Nepal Scouts to mental and offensive behavior.

The issue came to light when the woman posted a video on social media, recounting the abuse she faced at the hands of Bhattarai, who reportedly used insults, threats, and degrading actions towards her. She further accused him of corruption and claimed that Bhattarai has mistreated other employees under various pretenses.

According to the woman, Bhattarai is known for targeting competent individuals within the organization and punishing those who speak against him. This has reportedly led to a toxic environment at Nepal Scouts, forcing many employees to resign. She stated in her video, “Such behavior has forced many employees and volunteers to leave the organization, which has had a negative impact on the public interest.”

She emphasized the need to expose Bhattarai’s conduct to prevent such practices from recurring within Nepal Scouts in the future.

Bhattarai, however, denies all allegations. He asserts that the accusations against him are baseless and part of a plot to tarnish his reputation. In an interview with Makalu Khabar, Bhattarai stated, “All the allegations against me are completely false. If there were any real issues, they should be handled through proper channels.” He further claimed that the accusations were a scheme to remove him from his position and stated that the focus on his character assassination is unwarranted.

Bhattarai also refuted allegations of human trafficking, stating that if there were concrete claims, they would have gone to court. He criticized the spread of false accusations and claimed that no valid evidence exists to support these claims.

Meanwhile, Mahendra Raj Ranjit, the Chief Commissioner of Nepal Scouts, expressed ignorance about the situation. He mentioned that they would look into the matter and proceed accordingly, saying, “We will understand the situation and discuss it further.”

Previously, Bhattarai had been suspended for three months on Jan 10, following concerns over his misconduct and the harm caused to the organization. Despite multiple warnings, Bhattarai’s illegal activities were believed to have jeopardized Nepal Scouts’ integrity, prompting the decision for his suspension.

However, after intervention from Youth and Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary, who also serves as the chief scout, Bhattarai was reinstated. Under Chaudhary’s influence, Bhattarai has been making decisions that seem to align with his interests, including amendments to Nepal Scouts’ laws and regulations, sparking criticism about his controversial actions.

The ongoing controversies surrounding Bhattarai’s leadership have put the credibility and prestige of Nepal Scouts at risk.