KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who was the head of the government when the Gen Z revolt took place on September 8 and 9, is surrounded by questions. However, in the political report he presented at the UML Central Committee meeting, which started on Wednesday, Oli himself demanded answers to questions from others rather than providing his own. He avoided moral responsibility for the September 8 killings, claiming that he had not given the order to open fire that day.

His political report states, “The Prime Minister came to know about the September 8 firing incident only after it had occurred.”

The questions Oli raised include: Why were so many shots fired without adopting other alternative measures for riot control? Why were about two dozen youths killed simultaneously? Why were hundreds injured? Was the destruction on September 9 a preparation for something, or what for? He demanded an analysis of the interrelationship between the incidents of September 8 and 9.

Similarly, Oli asked: How was such a situation created? Why was necessary security alertness not maintained by assessing possible infiltration, and why did a situation leading to firing arise? Was this just a security lapse, or were other interests inherent in it? Why were such a large number of students and youths killed? He stated that it is necessary to conduct a factual investigation into this matter and punish the culprits according to the law.

The UML has announced that it will not accept the investigation commission formed by the government under the leadership of a former justice. The report says, “The responsibility of investigating such a huge conspiracy against the nation is possible only by a person with an independent, impartial, and judicial mind,” adding, “However, the responsibility of leading such a massive investigation has been entrusted to a person who has serious prejudice and a malicious perception towards political parties, leadership, and process.” The government has formed a three-member investigation commission headed by Gauri Bahadur Karki, the former chairman of the Special Court. Based on the commission’s recommendation, the passports of then-Prime Minister Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Home Secretary, Chief of the National Investigation Department, and Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer have been blocked. Furthermore, their travel has been restricted to a certain area.

On the first day of the Gen Z movement, 19 people in Kathmandu and 2 in Itahari were killed by gunfire. Oli was forced to leave power after demonstrators surrounded the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on September 9. Oli, who left Baluwatar in an army helicopter, only appeared publicly 10 days later. A day after that, he claimed on his Facebook page that he had not ordered the firing on the protesters and that the shots were fired from sophisticated weapons.

Oli concluded that the internal and external conspiracy against the system of Federal Democratic Republic and the Constitution manifested in a terrifying and tragic way on September 8 and 9.

“These incidents, which occurred after the Prime Minister had already resigned, were not just for a change of government, but were part of a systematic conspiracy to destroy the country’s nationality, democracy, constitution, economy, culture, and national unity,” the report stated. Regarding the incident on September 9, the report said: “In reality, this incident was a continuation of the so-called ‘Color Revolution’ that various powerful nations have been practicing in different countries after the Cold War.”

Mass protest for the restoration of the House of Representatives

In the political report, Oli proposed a street movement for the restoration of the House of Representatives and holding the party’s 11th General Convention in Pokhara from December 13 to 15. The 6-page report covers various issues under 15 headings, including the Gen Z movement on September 8, the attack on the Parliament building, firing and killings, the tragic incident of September 9, the current government, dissolution of the House of Representatives, and the investigation commission.

Furthermore, the topics include: Propaganda and systematic conspiracy, elections, the increasingly precarious security situation, the concerns of the new youth generation, appeal to democratic forces, strong unity in the party, movement to return the country to the path of the Constitution and democracy, and the party’s 11th General Convention.

Oli proposed resorting to a street movement rather than seeking legal remedies against the dissolution of the House of Representatives. “We want to make it clear that our party’s conclusion is that there is no alternative to a people’s movement against the excesses and reverse course taking place under the protection of the government, and to restore the dissolved Parliament and return the country to the path of the Constitution and democracy,” the report declared. “Therefore, we call upon the party rank and file, political parties supportive of the Constitution and democracy, and the general public to move forward by deciding on various programs for public mobilization and a people’s movement.”

Ten writs were filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the dissolution of the House of Representatives. In Wednesday’s meeting, 50 central members expressed their views on Chairman Oli’s report.