On Chaitra 15, 2006, Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal had reached the office in a government vehicle. But when he returned, he crossed the gate of Singha Durbar by taxi, not a government vehicle. He had resigned from the post of secretary following a dispute with the then Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari over the fake VAT bill. His nature of not being able to compromise with corruption showed him the courage to give priority to pure administration and good governance rather than power and position.

He joined the Nepali Congress in 2070 BS.TAG_OPEN_p_47 He wanted to contest the election from Palpa-3. Hari Prasad Nepal, who was close to Sher Bahadur Deuba, got the ticket after some Nepali Congress members of the district stood in support of him in the election. After the formation of the government under the leadership of Nepali Congress in 2070 BS, he worked as the coordinator of the President Chure program at the insistence of the then President Ram Baran Yadav. The then Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat had planned to appoint him as the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, which fell vacant in April 2071.

} However, after the then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala appointed Dr. Chiranjeevi Nepal of Palpa as the governor, his name was only in the news. After the promulgation of the constitution of 2072 BS, Khanal became active in the Naya Shakti Party founded by former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. He was not active in any political party after that party did not run. He used to give advice and advice to the young leaders of the political parties. It was Khanal who had convinced Ram Sharan Mahat to appoint Swarnim Wagle as a member of the National Planning Commission.

Khanal, who was ousted from the post of Finance Secretary on March 29, 2010, has returned as a minister after 15 years in the Ministry of Finance.TAG_OPEN_span_41 He had left the post of secretary after the then finance minister made an agreement with the businessmen who had harmed the country by using fake VAT bills.

Khanal, who is a proponent of an open economy with regulation, is known to be very upright and uncompromising on the issue of good governance.TAG_OPEN_span_40 A retired secretary who worked with him on the fake VAT bill case said that Khanal is one of the few people who can handle the economy in the current situation. The lawlessness that erupted in the Genji group movement has now led to arson and looting of public property and private property. The government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki will have to hold elections within 6 months and hand over power to the elected government. Returning to the Ministry of Finance after 15 years is not just a celebration, but a cry for a nation oppressed by anarchy.

The movement has destroyed private businesses from public property. The sweat and dreams of businessmen and entrepreneurs have turned to ashes. From Min Bahadur Gurung to Chandra Dhakal, Nirvana Chaudhary and Shekhar Golchha, establishments are burning in the capital. The situation of industrialists and businessmen outside Kathmandu is even worse. They are frustrated with the question of whether they can get back up by investing in someone. It is estimated that the extent of the damage will be more than Rs 20 trillion.

In such a terrible situation, Khanal has been given the responsibility of reconstruction. Many other ministries have collapsed. Since the government does not have property insurance, the responsibility of raising resources is also on his shoulders. The economy is in a bigger psychological crisis than a numerical deficit. Investors’ confidence has shattered, entrepreneurs are in fear, people are only asking what will happen tomorrow morning.

But in such a difficult time, his name is trusted. In the past, the Oli government had formed a commission for economic reform and prepared a 447-page report under his leadership. From revenue reform to expenditure control, from encouraging the private sector to restructuring of public enterprises, the report was limited to paper. Today, the situation has changed and the opportunity has come in Khanal’s hands to implement the suggestions taken in the report. Here’s where investors’ hopes lie—whether they can now bring to life a suggestion that has never been implemented.

But time is short. The temporary government has a constitutional obligation to hold elections within six months and hand over power. In the meantime, Khanal has been given the responsibility of reviving the economy, boosting the confidence of investors and mobilizing resources for the reconstruction. It’s not easy, but his past has brought hope.

The minister cannot do a personal miracle to improve the economy. But the mere feeling of having a trusted name in the leadership is also a great confidence for investors. Khanal’s return to Singha Durbar has boosted the same confidence.

Rameshwor Khanal, who left Singha Durbar 15 years ago in a taxi, has returned to Singha Durbar.TAG_OPEN_p_42 Will Shusasan’s dream, which was left unfulfilled at that time, be fulfilled now as a minister? Can he bring hope of recovery from the chaos that has spread in the country? Only time will answer these questions. But the need of the hour is the same — a courageous and non-compromising finance minister, Rameshwor Khanal.