Opposition demands govt’s response on Sunsari incident

KATHMANDU: Opposition lawmakers staged a protest in the House of Representatives as soon as Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal commenced the parliamentary session on Thursday.

Lawmakers from all opposition parties — the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Shram Sanskriti Party (NCP) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) — stood in protest during the meeting.

Opposition parties have been obstructing parliamentary proceedings since Prime Minister Balendra Shah said in his address in the lower house that Nepal had encroached on India’s territory.

Speaker Aryal allowed NC Chief Whip Basana Thapa to address the meeting. Thapa drew the attention of the government to the death of Om Prakash Mehta and the injuries sustained by dozens of people in Kaptangunj of Sunsari on Sunday night. She said the government had completely failed in maintaining law and order.

“Despite such a major incident, in which a citizen lost his life and dozens, including security personnel, were injured, the government has remained helpless,” Thapa said. “The government must answer for this incident and take full responsibility.”

Questioning the government’s leadership and handling of the situation, she also criticized the silence of the prime minister and the home minister.

“The prime minister has remained silent on such a serious issue. It is also surprising that the home minister, who often becomes emotional over public issues, has chosen to remain silent today,” she said. “Leadership is not only about running the administration but also about protecting the lives and property of citizens.”

Thapa urged the government to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident, bring those responsible to justice without delay, and provide appropriate compensation to the victims’ families.