Smriti Baral resigns from Nepal Scouts, citing political character assassination
She said that the constant efforts to tarnish her image and question her character had left her with no option but to step down on moral grounds.
KATHMANDU: Smriti Baral, the International Commissioner of Nepal Scouts and a central figure in its executive leadership, has resigned from her position, citing repeated attacks on her dignity due to her political affiliations.
Baral, who is also a Standing Committee Member and Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the CPN-UML aligned student wing ANNFSU, said that the constant efforts to tarnish her image and question her character had left her with no option but to step down on moral grounds.
Elected to the position on Falgun 13, 2080 (Feb 25, 2024), Baral had been serving in the role for 15 months.
She submitted her resignation via email to the Chief Commissioner and Office Head of Nepal Scouts on Wednesday and later made it public through social media.
In her resignation letter, Baral highlighted the pain of having her political background used to repeatedly undermine her self-respect. “In recent times, both the organization and I personally had to face many ups and downs,” she wrote. “But what hurt me the most was the continuous behavior that targeted my political journey and wounded my self-esteem. Character assassination and the spread of misleading information have sadly become the norm.”
Baral further remarked that the relentless personal attacks led her to conclude that Nepali society suffers from a unique “mental illness.” She explained, “Today, our society is plagued by a particular mindset — the belief that anyone involved in politics is selfish and will do anything for power. But we must not forget that a true politician is someone who dreams of changing society and dedicates their life to the service of others.”
She clarified that her resignation was driven by the ethical burden of being repeatedly blamed for actions she did not commit, solely because of her active political involvement.
Baral’s departure marks a significant moment for Nepal Scouts, raising concerns over the intersection of politics and civic leadership in Nepal’s social institutions.
