CPN-UML Slams Government Over Arrest of Party Chairman KP Sharma Oli

Kathmandu. The CPN-UML has criticized the government following the arrest of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli. UML leader Bishal Bhattarai accused the new government of initiating politics of revenge less than 24 hours after its formation. Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Chyasal, he called Oli's arrest a condemnable act and warned of a strong counter-response through both legal and parliamentary fronts.

Bhattarai stated that while expectations were high for the government, which came to power with a new mandate, to work for the people and the nation, it has immediately resorted to vindictiveness. He claimed that the Karki Commission report, which formed the basis for Oli's arrest, was inherently biased.

He pointed out that the commission based its findings solely on the incident of the 23rd, completely ignoring the massive destruction that occurred on the 24th. He asserted that taking action to implement the report immediately upon government formation, when the commission failed to specifically name any responsible parties, is purely political revenge. He clarified that the UML has no objection to taking action against the guilty after an investigation, but basing action on only one side of the incident is wrong.

Bhattarai asserted that the contradictions within the report itself clearly demonstrate how biased it is. According to him, the commission blamed security personnel for trying to provide security during the incident on the 23rd, and then blamed them again for not providing security on the 24th. He expressed dissatisfaction that the report remained completely silent about the inhuman killing of police officers at the Maharajgunj police station.

Bhattarai accused the convener of the investigation committee, Gauribahadur Karki, of being biased from the beginning. Bhattarai stated that Karki himself is a controversial figure who had publicly declared his verdict beforehand, saying that people "must be arrested and imprisoned."

He made it clear that the party will under no circumstances accept the crackdown on the party chairman based on the report of an individual who had already acted as judge and formed an opinion.