Two separate high-level committees have been established to investigate the burning of books authored by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Manmohan Technical University in Budhiganga. Both the University Conservation Committee and the Ministry of Home Affairs have launched formal inquiries to determine the facts behind the controversial incident.
The University Conservation Committee, chaired by Ishwar Pokharel, formed a three-member probe team led by Rajan KC, with members Mukesh Upadhyay and Suresh Lal Shrestha. Under Section 24 of the University Act, the team has been mandated to conduct field visits, collect data, and interview faculty and staff. The committee, which commenced work on Wednesday, is expected to submit its findings within 15 days.
Simimarly, the Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed a five-member task force headed by Morang’s Assistant Chief District Officer, Saroj Koirala. This team includes representatives from the Nepal Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, the Government Attorney’s Office, and the Education Unit. They are tasked with identifying the decision-making process, the officials who issued the orders, and the individuals involved in the burning.
The controversy arose after materials were set on fire Saturday evening during a cleanup of an automobile workshop intended for a new civil engineering lab. While the university initially claimed that only termite-damaged documents and "scrap" materials were destroyed, reports surfaced that copies of President Xi’s books were among the ashes. The university administration maintains that nearly 13,000 copies remain safely stored and that any books burned were accidental, occurring during the disposal of moldy waste.
The books were originally brought to the institution from the Chinese Embassy via the Pushpalal Memorial Foundation during the tenure of the late leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari. While the university insists the act was not intentional, the dual investigations aim to provide a definitive account of the event within the next two weeks.
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