Kathmandu, Sept 21: Nepali Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has condemned the arrest of Bharat Dahal, describing it as an arbitrary act by the government and demanding his immediate release.
In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, Koirala warned that democracy would come under threat if the government began acting outside established laws and procedures.
“When a government starts operating beyond policies and rules, it becomes arbitrary. Bharat Dahal’s arrest is the latest example of this,” Koirala wrote.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s recent conduct, he asked, “What kind of society are we building?”
Koirala urged the government to release Dahal without delay and make a clear commitment that such actions would not be repeated.
“I call on the government to release Bharat Dahal immediately and pledge that such anti-democratic activities will not happen again,” he said.
He stressed that the government must remain mindful of its responsibility to protect democratic values and principles. State institutions, he suggested, should exercise their authority within the law and remain accountable for their actions.
Koirala’s statement has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the limits of state power, freedom of expression and the legal safeguards available to citizens. His remarks also underline a basic democratic principle: an arrest must rest on clear legal grounds and follow due process.
The statement, however, did not explain when or where Dahal was arrested, which agency detained him, or the allegations against him. The government and the agency concerned had also not immediately issued a detailed public explanation regarding the arrest.
Without such information, questions over the grounds and procedure of Dahal’s detention are likely to persist. A prompt official account could clarify whether the arrest followed the law and whether Dahal has been granted access to legal representation.
Koirala said protecting democratic norms required the government to avoid arbitrary conduct and ensure that law enforcement agencies acted transparently and within their legal authority.
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