Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Home Affairs Sudhan Gurung has declined to answer a question in the National Assembly about the investigation into the 2018 rape and murder of Kanchanpur teenager Nirmala Panta.
The issue was raised during a question-and-answer session with the home minister in the upper house on Thursday. At the beginning of the session, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal allowed Nepali Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma to ask his question.
Bishwakarma asked the home minister about the status of the investigation into Panta’s murder and when those responsible would be arrested.
In response, Gurung said the case was highly sensitive and urged lawmakers not to repeatedly raise it in parliament.
“This is a very sensitive matter. Why was it not resolved when you were in government?” Gurung said. “Should we keep reopening the mother’s wounds in Parliament, or should we deliver justice? I cannot say much, nor should I. We are conducting the investigation carefully. I request that this question not be raised.”
He asked the lawmaker to ask him personally if he wanted to know more about the case. “This issue should not be repeatedly brought up in the House,” Gurung added.
Chairperson Dahal then allowed Bishwakarma to ask a supplementary question.
Bishwakarma said it was his legislative right to question the government and again asked: “When will Nirmala’s killers be arrested?”
Gurung replied: “I do not want to answer that question.”
