A day after making a controversial remark that the judiciary should be brought under the purview of Parliament, Nepali Congress General Secretary Shashank Koirala on Monday backtracked on his statement clarifying that he respects the court.

Talking to reporters in Biratnagar on Saturday, the leader of the largest party had said the judiciary should be brought under the ambit of Parliament by amending the constitution as the former unnecessarily encroached upon the jurisdiction of the government in the appointment of the inspector general of Nepal Police.

“The NC believes in democratic values. Since its establishment, the party has an unflinching commitment to the parliamentary system, independent judiciary, press freedom and human rights,”  Koirala said in a statement on Saturday. “I am aware of the separation of powers enshrined in the constitution too. ”  

The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice to the NC and its President Sher Bahadur Deuba in a contempt of court petition.