The KP Sharma Oli release demand echoed strongly in Nepal’s Parliament on Thursday, as opposition lawmakers called for the immediate release of the former prime minister and other detained leaders.
As soon as the House of Representatives session began, CPN-UML lawmaker Guru Baral raised the issue, urging the government to free party chairman KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. He accused authorities of misusing legal provisions to justify their arrests, calling the move unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Baral told the House that sections 81 and 82 of the Criminal Code had been wrongly applied in the case. He argued that such legal action undermines constitutional norms and democratic values. The lawmaker stressed that the KP Sharma Oli release demand reflects broader concerns within the party about the misuse of state power against political figures.
He also questioned the government’s decision to form another investigation committee regarding the events of Bhadra 23. Referring to the findings of a previous commission led by Gauribahadur Karki, Baral said the report had already addressed the key issues related to that date.
He raised concerns about the necessity and fairness of launching a separate inquiry into the same matter, asking whether duplicating investigations serves any legitimate purpose. In addition, Baral criticized the government’s response to UML-led protests following Oli’s arrest.
He claimed that peaceful demonstrations held across the country were met with excessive force. According to him, several lawmakers and party members, including Shajida Siddiqui and Bishnumaya BK, were injured during the crackdown. He called on Home Minister Sudan Gurung to initiate an independent probe into the alleged use of force against protesters.
The developments have intensified political tensions, with opposition leaders warning that continued detentions could deepen mistrust between the government and rival parties. The KP Sharma Oli release demand is expected to remain a central issue in upcoming parliamentary discussions.
The situation now raises broader questions about legal accountability, political stability, and the government’s approach to handling dissent in the days ahead.
