Dear Rabi Dai,
I first reached out to you when I went to the Terai during the peak of the Covid lockdowns. The protocols there were haphazard, and no one seemed to have things in control. I witnessed incidents beyond belief, witnessed deaths resulting from the careless Covid protocols. I witnessed how ineffective the state machinery had become, and I witnessed the lack of on the ground reporting from our national media outlets, including us. I momentarily lost respect for the media, the governance system, humanity, everything. I too took out my camera and expressed my frustration and anger, like you did yesterday. I reached out to many media personnel, including you, to invite you all to the ground, where people were dying, so that you could tell their stories.
I reached out to you then, specifically because I appreciated what you were doing with your show. I understood that you were speaking to the Nepali everyman and woman, guiding them regarding how to feel, how to think about issues. You connected with millions and your show had become one of the most watched shows in Nepali TV (hats off to you). I showed you my appreciation in person when we met a few months ago, before your campaign announcement.
I celebrated your success, and whenever your name came up in my discussions in the media industry, I always vocally supported you, understanding that there’s space for different forms of journalism, and that we all should respect each other’s forms of it. When the topic of your alleged blackmailing patterns, passport misuse, etc came up, I always told people around me that I believe in the rule of law and that one is innocent unless proven guilty.
When you and Nikita Di came to invite me to join your political party, I felt we instantly connected. We were even finishing each other’s sentences. I felt humbled when you invited me on your journey to do politics together. I respectfully turned the offer down that day not because I didn’t believe in you, but like I had told you, because I believe I can add the most value to our country from the private sector.
Watching your party take shape, and the RSP’s election performance, I was a happy well-wisher, and personally celebrated when your party’s candidates got ministerial portfolios. We stayed in touch after your victory, and my personal opinion of you and your party didn’t change. I even reminded you of the hope that your party had created, and told you that hope is a sensitive matter, not to be toyed with, a much more serious emotion than the anger and frustration this country has been plagued with for decades. On the many phone calls I received from you and Nikita Di, seeking support, after you became the Home Minister, I always reminded you that the newsroom and I are independent of each other, and that Kantipur has always functioned this way; it’s in our company constitution to ensure our business departments are not to be aligned with our responsibility of independent journalism. Our newsroom has always stood for what’s right, not what’s popular, and we have always fulfilled our responsibility as responsible watchdogs of society, always. Proudly.
I’m sure that as a journalist, you understood this better than anyone else. Unfortunately, as a politician, you have forgotten. A few days ago, you, like everyone else, resorted to political maneuvering, created false narratives and gave a sensational press conference. You let me down.
You made personal attacks against me, my family and our institution. They were baseless, and you know that. You didn’t let me down because you went on the attack. Rather, you let me down because you pulled a stunt; cornered by the rule of law, you went on to create a false narrative, and attempted to conveniently villainize the media industry, after having been a part of it for a decade. You tried to create confusion and anger in the Nepali public, to fulfill your personal agenda. This doesn’t sit well with me.
I see what you’re doing, I see your strategy. It’s a classic manipulation move, to scream and shout, point fingers, blame everyone else, to confuse the public, rally them, and feed off their collective anger. But let me remind you Rabi Dai, I have always believed that one is innocent until proven guilty. And you have been proven guilty, not by me, not by the media, not by your political opposition, but the Supreme Court. You are guilty and only you are to blame for your unraveling, no one but yourself. The verdict is out. And I wish you accepted that, and fought your upcoming cases within the bounds of the law. Only you know about the skeletons in your closet, however many there may be remaining. But instead of accepting one of your losses with humility and fighting with a proud spirit, you have resorted to dragging millions of your fans down with you, into the darkness of confusion and anger. Hats off to you, this time not for your success as a journalist, but for being a master manipulator.
Out of the respect I once had for you, I want to address, point by point, your accusations. I’m sure you as the Home Minister have already vetted us in every angle possible, but your misleading the public does harm to me, my family and our institution.
You held up a piece of paper during your press event and hinted that I was involved in a ‘hit and run’ car accident many years ago. I was indeed involved in an accident in 2015. I was driving and my car lost control, crashing into a pole in Maitighar. Two of my cousins were with me in the car, and one sustained minor injuries. He was taken to Norvic Hospital in the presence of many witnesses and the remaining two of us were unscathed. I called the police myself, and the incident report is lodged with Nepal Traffic baggikhana. The case, unlike how you described it, isn’t kept a secret at all. Matter of fact, it was blown out of context and sensationalized. A sensible Home Minister doesn’t go screaming in public, asking where the file is. You should know where the traffic police keep their files. Please recheck.
You then tried to sensationalize what was a defamation attempt, during the Covid period, from a fake social media account co-incidently named (sidha kura), accusing my dad of attempting sexual abuse in Soaltee Hotel. We along with Soaltee Hotel independently immediately filed a complaint to the Nepal Police the next day, and requested for an investigation into this, with priority. The result: fake account, attempting defamation, the room number didn’t exist in the hotel. You publicly asked us why we did not file a police complaint. We did. On 2077/05/11. Please recheck. You know this, you were the Home Minister. A personal false allegation of such grave magnitude against my father doesn’t sit well with me.
You mentioned Chandragiri Hills. We do not have any affiliation, let alone ownership, regarding this business. They are a publicly listed company. It doesn’t require deep investigation to check who the shareholders are.
You mentioned an insurance company. I’m guessing you were hinting at Himalayan ReInsurance. We are one of the promoters of the company, with a tax-paid source of investment; the payment for the investment has gone from our Kumari Bank and NIBL FD account. Unfortunately for you, there is no scandal there either. However, do let me know if we are not allowed to make investments from our tax-paid sources, or if the insurance business is beyond the law in any way.
You hinted that Kantipur practices extortion and that businesses need to offer us free shares for protection, in a scheme dubbed as ‘Golden Shares’ by you. Please send one of your accountants to the OCR and verify every single company in our ownership, along with my extended family members’, and reach out to me, with examples of extortion cases if you find any. Please don’t spread baseless allegations. I have honest ambitions and I take great pride in the work I do. I also proudly run an investment company, from which I have investments in businesses ranging from education, fintech, and e-commerce to financial services, insurance and personal skin care. I am proud of the businesses I am involved with and I work tirelessly every day to create value and grow these companies. Please, again, feel free to send over your accountant. I will gladly open my books. I am sure you will appreciate that every single rupee of investment is tax paid, and you will conclude that I am an honest hard working entrepreneur. Any allegations that I am a dishonest businessman doesn’t sit well with me.
Rabi Dai, the final line you crossed was threatening our newsroom, hinting that you would come with your crowd and surround our offices. This is a direct threat towards me and KMG personnel. Please be careful when using your voice in such a manner in the future. After all, before your stunt yesterday, I was your well wisher. Now, I am someone you let down.
I am accountable for every action and decision I have made. I will be proud of my accomplishments, and I will own up to my mistakes. If I have indulged in any activity that is beyond the law, I am ready to face the consequences. You should too.
Regards,
Sambhav Sirohiya
(from the Kantipur Media Group)
