“My love for nation made me Minister,” says Mahabir Pun

KATHMANDU: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Mahabir Pun has said that his “love for the country” ultimately brought him into active politics.

Speaking in the House of Representatives during a discussion on his ministry’s budget allocation on Thursday, the minister responded to lawmakers’ queries with a reflective and symbolic remark about his journey from rural attachment to national service.

He explained that his sense of attachment first began with his village, gradually expanding to the district and eventually to the entire nation, which he described as the path that led him to become a Member of Parliament and a minister.

“First there was love for my village. From there it expanded to the district, and then to the country. That is how I became a lawmaker and a minister,” he said.

Referencing a popular old song about love turning a person into a “hermit,” Minister Pun added that his experience mirrors that sentiment, suggesting that his deep emotional connection to the country has shaped his public life.

He further remarked that despite holding a ministerial position, he personally identifies as someone detached from conventional political lifestyle, describing himself as a “jogi” (ascetic) in a practical sense.