National Assembly members demand justice for Niharika

The National Assembly lawmakers have called on the government to ensure justice to Niharika Rajput who is on a fast-unto-death in the federal capital demanding justice.

Speaking in the Zero Hour of a session of the Upper House today, they drew the attention of the government to protect Niharika and her child, conduct a fair investigation into the incident and take stern action against the guilty.

Mrigendra Singh Yadav called attention of the government, saying Niharika Rajput, a Madhesi woman, has been demanding action against her perpetrator and justice for her.

Bimala Ghimire said it is regrettable that Niharika's demands were not fulfilled yet even when the single mother of 21 months old and a rape victim has been observing a hunger strike calling for justice. She demanded forming an investigation committee to probe the incident.

Tulasa Kumari Dahal said the government should not interfere in the affairs of the Nepal Red Cross Society, a humanitarian organisation.

Bhagawati Neupane drew the attention of the government towards the elephant terror in Chitwan. Maya Prasad Sharma wanted to know why the farmers were not getting fertiliser in the rice planting time.

Sarada Devi Bhatta said the government should pay attention to minimizing the loss of life and property to flood and landslide during the monsoon.

Niharika says that she was raped and her child was born of this sexual assault. Niharika Rajput, a single mother who was raped when she was 17-years-old.

She has started an indefinite hunger strike, claiming that she was deprived of justice. According to her, the Dhanusha District Court has acquitted her perpetrator due to political and financial power.

After the District Court of Dhanusha ruled in favor of accused Shivaraj Shrestha on 24 Magh 2078, Rajput filed a case against the decision of the District Court on Dhanusha High Court. However, even after four months of filing the case, the hearing date has not been fixed yet. So she has decided to start a hunger strike.

She has put forth a five-point demand to be fulfilled. In the demand, she has asked for a DNA test for her child, and an investigation regarding the decision of the district court.

Niharika has said that she will not break the hunger strike until her demands are met. She demanded the case be re-investigated as the police had done negligence in the case from the beginning.