Congress co-general secretary Shivakoti summoned by Cyber Bureau, alleges government pressure

Nepali Congress co-general secretary Ajay Babu Shivakoti appeared before the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau on Sunday and returned home after questioning.

The bureau had summoned him based on a complaint filed by journalist Roshan Khadka. Shivakoti had earlier made public that the bureau's notice came on Kartik 19.

He went to the bureau on Sunday afternoon, saying police had pressed him even during the festival holidays.

Entering the bureau, Shivakoti alleged that the investigation was being pushed forward through the police under government pressure. He said he was responding because the ruling party and people close to Prime Minister Balen Shah had been repeatedly attacking the Congress leadership.

Shivakoti also alleged that while the prime minister's past remark that he would "burn down Singha Durbar" had been treated as free expression, his own adviser was now trying to silence the voice of the opposition.

According to Nepal Press Union general secretary Dilip Paudel, who accompanied him, pressure had been put on Shivakoti to remove a status he had written about the prime minister. He was also questioned about another status he had written concerning a personal matter involving Khadka.

Paudel said Shivakoti stood firm on not removing either status and said he was ready to face any action over it. Shivakoti said police let him go home, telling him to "think it over."

According to one account, however, the complainant Khadka reached an understanding with the bureau, committing not to file false complaints in future.