DARSHAN RAUNIYAR’S RESPONSE I was shocked and could not believe the story by Salokya on the Mysansar blog and on seeing the video attached. I realize that an email requesting my comments was sent to me but it went into spam and I just read it last night. It is very disappointing to note that a blog like Mysansar decided to rush this story to publication in complete disregard of fair and responsible journalism. They did not bother to extend minimal courtesy, did not follow-up and made no further efforts to reach me. As a result, blog readers have posted irresponsible comments without reading my side of the story. The bulk of the comments therefore are shallow and judgmental. The commentators jump to the conclusion that I exploited and abused Ms. Bista, which is utterly false. I wish they had been afforded the opportunity to hear my clarifications on such a grave litany of charges. To me, it smells like a conspiracy to maliciously discredit me and to damage my reputation. I wish Mysansar will behave more responsibly in the future and adhere to the basic principles of fair journalism and honor the basic ethics of responsible journalism. My Clarification Ms Bista is a long and trusted family friend. She joined my mother and my family in Nepal as domestic help and worked for many years. It greatly hurts my feeling to hear the charges in her voice. I believe that she has been misled. Knowing her and on the basis of her loving and affectionate relationship with my mother and rest of the family, I could hardly believe her words and I am confident that she did not mean what she said. Hopefully, she will set the record straight one day. As far as I know, she expressed her desire to visit U.S.A. and accompany my mother. As she was very close to my mother and in view of her long dedicated service to our family, we decided to reward and grant her wish. We paid for her air ticket. While in the U.S.A., we provided her room and board. She travelled and stayed as a family friend and there were no contractual obligation to do any work. As members of American households do their part and share the household work, she voluntarily did her part just like rest of us. But, there was no compulsion or obligation whatsoever. She was very pleased and repeatedly expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to visit U.S.A. I am a law abiding person and it is patently absurd to think that I would have brought Ms. Bista to the US for any kind of work on a tourist visa. I own and run a business and I know the regulations for hiring help and the prevailing wage rates. All the money given to her was for pocket expenses and sundries and there never was any employment contract of any kind between us. So, the fact is that she travelled and stayed as a family friend and she promptly returned to Nepal and her passport was handed to her family. There is absolutely no reason for us to hold her passport, which we had helped her get so that she could travel to the U.S. This sounds like a conspiracy against me and I am confident that certain individuals are willfully and maliciously stirring up this mischief. It may even have to do with my recent visit to Nepal and my high visibility. As I believe in Democracy and Rule of Law, if necessary, I will get to the bottom of this matter. I would like you all to know that Nepal is very dear and special to me. I will continue help Nepal and nothing will ever deter me.