Himal Press 
JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav
KATHMANDU: All is not well within the ruling coalition after the government decided to investigate the Gaur Massacre.
The coalition partner, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), has grown suspicious of the government, which signed a seven-point agreement with the victims of the Gaur Massacre on Tuesday.
The agreement was signed in the initiation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs and CPN (Maoist Center) Senior Vice President, Narayan Kaji Shrestha. JSP has expressed dissatisfaction with the government for signing an agreement with the victims without informing them.
JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav has expressed his dissatisfaction with Prime Minister and Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, as well as Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.
A total of 27 individuals, including 26 affiliated with the then CPN (Maoist), lost their lives in the violent clashes that erupted when the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and CPN (Maoist) organized simultaneous rallies at the same location in Gaur on March 21, 2007.
CPN (Maoist) has now become the Maoist Center, while MPRF has transformed into JSP after merging with different political parties. JSP is a partner in the ruling coalition.
In the agreement signed with the victims, the Ministry of Home Affairs has committed to investigating the complaints filed by the families of the victims and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The ministry has also agreed to publish the names of the victims who were declared martyrs by the cabinet meeting held on December 24, 2008, in the Gazette. Similarly, the ministry will initiate the process to recognize other individuals who were not included in the previous list as martyrs.
A report prepared by the National Human Rights Commission after investigating the Gaur Massacre states that MPRF cadres took people under control and brutally killed them.
A probe commission led by the then appellate court Judge Hari Prasad Sharma indicted 64 individuals, concluding that the incident was pre-planned. Likewise, CPN (Maoist) stated at that time that the incident was orchestrated under the direction of MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav. The families of the victims have named Yadav as the perpetrator in their complaints.
JSP Hints at Leaving Government
JSP leaders held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments. Party spokesperson Manish Suman said that informal discussions were held during the meeting.
Maoist Center leaders, however, stated that JSP might consider leaving the coalition. “JSP has expressed objections to the agreement reached with the Gaur Massacre victims,” a Maoist Center leader said. “The party is dissatisfied, stating that the agreement was reached with the victims without discussing the matter in the coalition meeting.”
Suman, however, clarified that JSP was not in the mood to leave the coalition. “The latest developments, however, have made us suspicious of the government’s intentions,” he added.
He stated that the government should investigate the case by forming a parliamentary committee.
JSP has 12 lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The ruling coalition holds 156 seats out of the 275-member lower house.
More:
