CPN-UML Demands Investigation of Janjati Movement Incident Led by Sitting Supreme Court Judge

Kathmandu – The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has demanded the formation of a separate commission to investigate the incidents related to the Janjati movement. The party’s secretariat, in an emergency meeting held today, decided that a distinct commission should be established under the leadership of a sitting Supreme Court judge.

The interim election government had previously formed an inquiry commission led by former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki. Based on the recommendations of the report submitted by that commission, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested today.

Following Chairman Oli’s arrest, a secretariat meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal.

After the meeting, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel stated that the party concluded the investigation conducted by the commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki was not impartial.

On this basis, the CPN-UML has demanded the formation of a separate commission. “Our demand is to form a high-level investigation commission chaired by a sitting Supreme Court judge to ensure an impartial and judicial inquiry into the incident,” General Secretary Pokharel conveyed the party’s decision.

The CPN-UML has described the arrests of Chairman Oli and Congress leader Lekhak as “illegal.” In response, the UML has decided to pursue legal and political protests against the arrests. Details of the decision to legally and politically oppose the arrests can be found here.