Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak has claimed that he did not issue any order to open fire during the Gen Z protest on September 8.
“I did not give any order—written or verbal—to open fire, use force, or take any such action. There was no reason to do so, and there is no legal provision that required it,” Lekhak said, speaking to journalists after recording his statement before the inquiry commission formed to investigate the incidents of September 8 and 9 on Monday.
He maintained that he resigned from his post while under extreme distress to uphold the dignity of office.
Lekhak has submitted a six-page written statement to the commission.
“In the meeting of the Central Security Committee organized on the eve of the protests, I told chiefs of security agencies to ensure there are no casualties; arrange proper peace and security management; and remain vigilant to possible infiltration in the protest,” he said in the written statement.
Lekhak, who was serving as home minister during the Gen Z movement, said that the protest, organised with good intentions, took a violent turn after it was infiltrated. He added that the destruction that occurred on September 9 was premeditated and planned, and that the violence on September 8 was not merely impulsive.
“The Gen Z generation organized the protest on September 8 with a just cause and good intentions. The demonstration started from Maitighar, but infiltration took place even before it reached Baneshwar,” Lekhak claimed. “This is confirmed by the fact that young participants themselves called on people to return home, saying the movement had been hijacked.”
