Nepali Congress Demands Legal Process in Action Against Perpetrators of August 23-24 Incidents

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress has emphasized that action against the culprits of the incidents that occurred on Bhadra 23 and 24, 2082, must be carried out according to legal procedures, not out of excitement or impulse.

The party has labeled the government's recent decisions and style of action as 'selective' and prejudiced, warning that this could weaken the rule of law.

In a press release issued by party spokesperson Devraj Chalise on Saturday, the Congress stated that it has consistently demanded an impartial, lawful, and unbiased investigation into the incidents of both Bhadra 23 and 24. The statement mentioned that the Congress had demanded the formation of a high-level commission on Bhadra 25, and the Central Working Committee meeting held on Bhadra 27 also urged that those found guilty be brought under the purview of action.

Through its recently concluded meeting, the Congress also demanded that the government immediately publicize the report of the investigation commission led by Gauribahadur Karki. Observing the reactions emerging from the report that surfaced in the media, the Congress noted that the commission appeared to have examined the Bhadra 23 incidents in detail but overlooked the events of Bhadra 24, deeming this contrary to the rule of law and flawed. The Congress concluded that the report is one-sided and incomplete, and it reinforces the questions raised by the Supreme Court regarding Karki's impartiality.

The Congress criticized the decision by the cabinet meeting on Chaitra 13 to form a study committee regarding security mechanisms while immediately implementing other parts of the report, following the decision by the then Sushil Karki-led government to study the report, keep it on record in parliament, and publicize it. The Congress alleged that this hasty arrest process makes the government's behavior appear 'selective' and violates established legal procedures.

The Congress stated that the government appears to be attempting to politicize the incident further rather than delivering justice.

This stance from the Congress came after the government arrested former Prime Minister KP Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak within 24 hours of the commission's formation.