Kathmandu, April 2: The first session of Nepal’s federal parliament took place on March 5, following the parliamentary elections. A significant debate arose regarding the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, related to the suppression of protests last September.
Oli, the chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, CPN-UML), and Lekhak, a leader of the Nepali Congress, were arrested on March 28 in connection with a case of involuntary manslaughter linked to the protests, which resulted in numerous fatalities. During the unrest, 77 lives were lost, and damages to government and private property exceeded NPR 84 billion.
Leaders from CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress criticized the government’s actions regarding the arrests. In contrast, Rabi Lamichhane, president of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), supported the arrests, asserting that they ensure justice for the families of the victims. He emphasized that the mothers of the martyrs have the first right to justice, which should not be viewed as an act of revenge.
The RSP emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 182 out of 275 seats in the March 5 elections, while traditional political parties faced significant losses.
Lamichhane stated that despite the ruling party’s majority in parliament, there would be no campaign of retribution against opposition parties. He assured that no one would be treated differently based on ideology going forward.
He also mentioned that laws had previously been altered to protect those in power and to entrap the opposition. Such practices would be corrected promptly, with no room for arrogance or revenge against the opposition.
During the meeting, CPN-UML leaders condemned the arrests of Oli and Lekhak, claiming they were part of a larger conspiracy. Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal,’ the parliamentary party leader of UML, questioned why they were arrested “illegally,” suggesting it was part of a significant plot.
He attributed the RSP’s overwhelming victory to the misuse of government machinery, alongside activities by the Barbara Foundation and the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, and Goebbels-style propaganda to spread misinformation.
Nepali Congress MP Bhishma Raj Amdeng criticized the impartiality of the high-level commission and condemned a leaked report for its silence on the events of September 9, when public and private property suffered extensive damage. During the protests on September 8 and 9, several individuals were killed by police gunfire, and the following day, demonstrators caused substantial damage to property.
He questioned why the parliament building was reduced to ashes and why Singha Durbar, the main administrative center of the Nepal government, was set ablaze. He demanded a detailed investigation into the events of September 8 and 9.
During the parliamentary session, RSP President Lamichhane also apologized to the Dalit community for centuries of discrimination against them.
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