National
‘Democracy doesn’t mean protesting at every place’
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Wednesday told both the Houses of Parliament that democracy does not mean protesting and staging sit-in anywhere.Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Wednesday told both the Houses of Parliament that democracy does not mean protesting and staging sit-in anywhere.
Replying to queries on the indefinite hunger strike of activist Dr Govinda KC and justice-seeker Ganga Maya Adhikari, the minister allayed fears of opposition lawmakers, led by the Nepali Congress, and said the two protesters’ “approach was not right”.
Minister Thapa was present in both the Houses to answers queries of opposition lawmakers who briefly obstructed the Upper House.
“Democracy does not mean one can organise protests and stage sit-ins in every place. Nobody is above the law and Dr KC should also take into consideration democratic values,” said Minister Thapa.
The House of Representatives and National Assembly are the people’s court, and the right forums to find solutions to every issue. The government has not violated Dr KC’s rights and it guarantees his unalienable rights, he said.
Nepali Congress lawmakers pressed for answers from the government on Dr KC and Adhikari’s demands, as well as why it declared several places in Kathmandu as no protest zones.
The government has moved ahead by forging a consensus on issues of insurgency, he said. Adhikari’s demands are political and should be resolved through Truth and Reconciliation Com-mission. It is the responsibility of the state to pay special attention to the 17,000 victims like Adhikari, he added.
“While the government is ready to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on Adhikari’s case, it is also equally aware that such issues have to be resolved politically,” Minister
Thapa said.