Kathmandu, Nov 2: The Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party has demanded the formation of a special parliamentary committee to investigate the arrest and detention of journalists and other controversial actions by the government.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s parliamentary group on Monday.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe said the party wanted an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the arrests of journalists and all related controversial government actions.
“The Nepali Congress believes there must be an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the arrests of journalists and other controversial government actions linked to these incidents. Those found guilty must face legal action. A special parliamentary committee must be formed for this purpose,” he said.
The Congress parliamentary party said recent government actions had raised serious questions about civil liberties, press freedom, the autonomy of constitutional bodies and the rule of law.
Angdembe said the party objected to the arrests of journalists and related incidents. He argued that deploying police inside newsrooms without making public the clear legal basis for arrests, arrest warrants or court authorisation amounted to undue pressure on independent journalism and violated the rule of law.
“Such actions amount to arbitrariness. The government must answer for them,” he said. Angdembe said the Congress supported the government’s actions on issues of public concern and good governance when they were lawful and appropriate. However, the party would oppose any government action that violated the fundamental principles of democracy, the rule of law, press freedom and the separation of powers.
He also stressed that judicial independence must be preserved. “This is an issue we have consistently raised. But the government’s actions increasingly suggest a mindset that it can do whatever it wants without having to answer for its conduct,” he said.
The Congress believes the government’s recent actions form a dangerous chain of deliberate attempts to weaken the country’s constitutional framework and establish a system of governance tailored to its own interests.
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