Congress demands parliamentary committee to probe journalist arrest, disputed government acts

Main opposition party Nepali Congress has demanded the formation of a special parliamentary committee to investigate the arrest of journalists and all other disputed government activities. The demand was made at a meeting of the Congress parliamentary party held at Singha Durbar on Monday morning.

Congress objected to the incident in which police entered a media house and arrested a journalist. The party had earlier instructed its parliamentary party to demand a parliamentary probe committee to investigate the facts of the Inam Sapkota case.

The meeting also demanded that the government call sessions of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly as soon as possible. It was decided to move forward on this issue after discussions with other opposition parties. Congress said the government was acting against the principles of rule of law, press freedom and separation of powers, and announced it would initiate forming a common front of opposition parties.

Congress said that while the mandate received through elections gives the right to govern, it does not give leeway to go above the constitution and the law. At the meeting, General Secretary Pradip Paudel accused the government of disrespecting the opposition, parliament, the public and the media, and of increasing excesses against them.