Sharma says he will stage fast-unto-death unless PM offers apology

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Sunil Kumar Sharma has said that he would start a fast-unto-death unless Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal offers an apology for his arrest and the Minister for Home Affairs steps down.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, Sharma said he was arrested for seeking the resignation of individuals morally responsible for the 100 kg gold smuggling case. “Is the Prime Minister’s leadership aligned with terrorists or democrats? If a lawmaker like me cannot put forth my views in a democratic system and is arrested without an arrest warrant, what would happen to the general public,” Sharma questioned.

Sharma, who is also a medical practitioner, was detained by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police in connection with an investigation into counterfeit academic certificates on Thursday. However, the Kathmandu District Court ordered his release a day later, rejecting the police’s request to hold him in custody.