KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has strongly condemned the brutal beating and detention of youth activists, including Majid Ansari, Nahendra Khadka, and Sarishma Thapa, at the Kirtipur holding center.

Thapa criticized the state’s actions against the youths who had gone to the center to understand the fragile condition of flood victims and seek answers from the government.

He described the incident as extremely worrisome, shameful, and highly condemnable.

“This state was already heartless, but now it is this intolerant as well?!” Thapa questioned in a statement

The Nepali Congress leader reminded the government that asking questions in a democracy is an inherent right of every citizen, which should not be answered with arrests, batons, or suppression.

“A government becomes strong and a true defender of the law only when it has the courage to listen to differing opinions and criticism,” Thapa stated. “It is the responsibility of the state to address criticism through dialogue and accountability, rather than suppression.”

Terming the inability to listen to differing views and public queries as “extreme cowardice of power” rather than bravery, Thapa demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all the detained youth.