Rastriya Prajatantra Party Leader Gyanendra Shahi Demands Home Minister's Presence in Committee Meeting Over Squatter Issues

Kathmandu. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Parliamentary Party Leader Gyanendra Shahi has demanded the mandatory presence of the Home Minister in the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee meeting to answer for the squatter problem and the incidents that occurred during it.

Speaking at the committee meeting held on Thursday, leader Shahi accused the police of inhumane behavior in the name of managing squatter settlements. He asserted that the leadership of the home administration should clarify this matter.

Leader Shahi expressed serious objection to incidents where a nursing mother was dragged from her home and children were removed without even being allowed to bring their books during the eviction of squatter settlements. Drawing the attention of the committee chairperson, he urged that the issue be taken seriously and the tendency to 'manage' it be ended.

Stating that the responsibility of solving the squatter problem and deploying police lies with the Home Ministry, he said that the answer is needed from the minister, not from the employees. He said, 'We need an answer from the Home Minister, not from the employees, regarding the treatment of nursing mothers and minors. If possible, the Prime Minister himself should come for such a sensitive issue, otherwise the Home Minister must come. But instead of calling the Home Minister, kicking out the journalists is not a democratic practice.'

Leader Shahi clarified that the discussion would be meaningless until the incumbent Home Minister or the responsible person in charge of the ministry is present. He commented that pushing the process forward based on a majority would be against democratic culture and practice.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the committee meeting's operation, stating that discussions held in the absence of the responsible body would not yield conclusions. His stance is that the home administration must provide a clear answer to the parliament and parliamentary committees regarding the police repression in the squatter settlements.