Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has issued a public clarification regarding the incidents of Bhadau 23 and 24 (B.S.), denying claims that he ordered security forces to open fire on civilians. He stated that the Constitution of Nepal does not grant the prime minister such authority, and that he neither gave such an order nor could ever contemplate doing so. Oli recalled that following the tragic events of Bhadau 23, an investigation commission was immediately formed under the leadership of a former chief justice, and he expressed deep condolences to the families of the 19 children who lost their lives. According to him, the demonstration at Maitighar began peacefully, with no use of firearms or batons by security personnel, but infiltrators diverted the crowd toward restricted areas, placing children and students at the front near the Parliament building. He claimed that security forces fired only after being directly attacked, and that the incidents at Parliament, including attempts to set fire and use explosives, legally constituted an “attack against the state,” not a peaceful protest. Oli also noted that the destruction on Bhadau 24 occurred after his resignation and involved major state institutions such as Singha Durbar, the President’s Office, and the Supreme Court. He emphasized that security personnel act under the law, not government orders, and urged citizens not to fall for misinformation spread on social media. He expressed his readiness to answer questions on any public platform and reiterated his sorrow over the deaths of the 19 children, while questioning who, why, and how peaceful protesters were taken to areas where the law mandates the use of force.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
