Even as the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal presses the government to administer the oath of office to Resham Chaudhary, the MP-elect charged with involvement in the 2015 Tikapur killings, the KP Sharma Oli-led administration says it has taken no initiative for the same.
Even as the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal presses the government to administer the oath of office to Resham Chaudhary, the MP-elect charged with involvement in the 2015 Tikapur killings, the KP Sharma Oli-led administration says it has taken no initiative for the same.
Law Minister Sher Bahadur Tamang on Monday said the government had not taken any decision about swearing in Chaudhary as a member of parliament. The minister’s statement comes in the wake of media reports that the government was preparing to administer the oath to Chaudhary, who won the Kailali-1 constituency of federal parliament for the RJP-N, in prison.
RJP-N leader Mahantha Thakur said both Prime Minister Oli and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa were positive about making necessary arrangements for administering the oath to Chaudhary.
“The home minister has assured us that the government will make necessary arrangements for Chaudhary to take the oath,” Thakur said, arguing that there were several instances of people accused of crimes getting certificates of election in the past.
Thakur said his party has asked the government to seek a political solution to release Chaudhary as the Tikapur incident, in which eight people including security personnel and a child were killed, was political in nature.
“First, we want the government to provide certificate of election [to Chaudhary] and to administer the oath before following the due process of releasing him along with others languishing in different jails [on similar charges],” Thakur said. He, however, voiced displeasure that the government had made no preparations for releasing Chaudhary and withdrawing “fake cases” against RJP-N leaders and cadres.
Chaudhary staged a fast demanding certificate of election and oath. After the government assured him of addressing his demands, Chaudhary had agreed to break his fast. Home Minister Thapa had reached Bir Hospital on Friday to end Chaudhary’s 18-day fast by offering juice.
Party sources said Chaudhary has threatened to resume his hunger strike if the government failed to recognise his election. He is currently receiving treatment at Bir Hospital.
Attorney General Agni Kharel said the government would make no move in this regard that violates the constitution and the laws.
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