Kathmandu, May 15 -- Dr Sudha Gautam, former minister for Health and Population, said she was pressured by various quarters to transfer Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, then head of the Policy Planning and Monitoring Division at the ministry, on the grounds that he was appointed by the previous government.

Gautam, who served in the Sushila Karki-led non-partisan, caretaker government following the Gen-Z protest that toppled the KP Sharma Oli-led government, however, ignored all pressure and let Paudel continue the job he had been doing.

"All documents were destroyed in the fire during the Gen Z protest, and I was pressured to transfer all experienced and capable officials," said Gautam. "In Dr Paudel's case, I refused outright. He fulfilled hi...