UML Lawmakers Demand Release of KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak, Alleging Political Vendetta

Kathmandu. During Tuesday's House of Representatives meeting, CPN-UML lawmakers demanded the immediate release of party chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, labeling their arrests as acts of political vendetta.

Although Lekhak is a Congress leader, Congress lawmakers remained silent on the issue during the session.

Tuesday's meeting was limited to zero hour. UML lawmakers Guru Prasad Baral, Yashoda Baral, Ganesh Singh Thagunna, Ganga Chhantyal, and Kulbhakta Shakya argued that the arrests of Oli and Lekhak were illegal.

Oli and Lekhak were arrested on Chait 14 for allegedly using excessive force and firing at students in school uniforms during the Gen-Z protests on Bhadra 23 and 24. They remain in police custody.

Speaking in Parliament, UML lawmaker Guru Prasad Baral stated that the Balendra Shah-led government violated the constitution and the rule of law with these arrests, asserting that the charges against them should be dismissed.

Lawmaker Thagunna demanded their release, reiterating that the arrests were politically motivated rather than based on law.

Lawmaker Yashoda Kumari Baral demanded that files regarding all political changes since 2007 be opened, warning the government that it would face severe consequences if it continued to target Oli with political vendettas.

'Do not attempt to succeed in your campaign by imprisoning former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli out of political revenge; be aware that the government will face significant losses tomorrow,' she warned.

During Tuesday's zero hour, Congress lawmakers including Abhishek Pratap Shah, Gita Gurung, Ganga Devi Awal, Khadga Shahi, and Khadga Bahadur Budha spoke, but none addressed the arrest of Lekhak.

In response, Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Aakriti Awasthi questioned which national or international law permits firing at students in school uniforms, asserting that no one has the right to target students in school and college attire.