Leader Narayankaji Shrestha demands apology from India over Darchula incident

CPN (Maoist Centre) Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha has urged India to seek an apology for the role of Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) in the missing of a Nepali youth in the Mahakali River.

In his address to a special session of the National Assembly today, the Spokesperson of the party in the coalition government claimed that Jay Singh Dhami had vanished in the river as the SSB personnel dismantled a tuin (ropeway) the youth was using to cross the river. He termed the incident inhumane, cruel and condemnable.

"India should immediately seek an apology for the incident publicly," he said, demanding stern action against the guilty in the case. Such incident should not be reoccurred in the days ahead."

He praised the government for forming an investigation committee to look into the matter and taking initiation to address the issue diplomatically. He urged the government to carry out the investigation promptly, demand the Government of India action against the guilty, and ensure justice to the bereaved family.

Nepal always wishes to have a good and friendly relationship with India and it wants the resolution of all problems in a positive way through diplomatic dealing, according to the former Deputy Prime Minister.

The leader warned that any kind of dominating behavior against nationality, sovereignty, and geographical integrity would not be acceptable.

Stating that the country was suffering broader encroachment time and again and incidences of inundation in some settlements were constant due to river embankments and barrage constructed disproportionally, he called on political parties to unite against 'foreign meddling'.

Some unequal treaties are being imposed and there was foreign meddling in the domestic affairs, he urged political parties not to stay silent over such a trend for personal gains and interest.

He drew the attention of the government towards the fact that though Nepal's resources should be used for mutual benefits, the foreigner is suppressing the resources only for their own benefits.

Admitting that there are some internal disputes is some parties, leader Shrestha said, "The Nepali citizens and political parties stand together in favour of nationality when it needs and will again stand together."

 He urged the political parties and government to move ahead being serious towards the constitution and democracy and to think it seriously as undemocratic, dictatorship, individualism, and corrupted mindset is still taking place.

Stating that not only the former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, but all the parties involved in the move of dissolution of House of Representatives should also be responsible, Shrestha appealed to all the parties to carry out activities being responsible.

He also demanded the government to make immediate arrangements for vaccines against COVID-19 and a relief package for landslide and flood victims.

Similarly, speaking in the NA session, lawmakers Anita Devkota, Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi, and Gopi Bahadur Karki expressed concerns over the Mahakali incident and sought action against the guilty and justice to the victim's family. They demanded the government make clear about the incident.

Opposition party lawmakers call on govt to talk with India

The main opposition party, CPN (UML), lawmakers, speaking in the special time of the National Assembly today, have demanded that the government should hold talks with the Indian side regarding the incident in which a Nepali youth has gone missing after falling in the Mahakali river while crossing it with the help of tuin (rope bridge). The Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) is accused of cutting the rope of the tuin when the 33-year-old Jayasingh Dhami was crossing the river.

They charged the government with not taking the incident seriously, demanding that the government step up the search for the missing Dhami and providing proper compensation to his family.

The lawmakers speaking in the special time were Khim Lal Bhattarai, Indu Kadariya, Singha Bahadur Bishwokarma, Thagendra Prasad Puri, Bhagawati Neupane, among others.