KATHMANDU: Ruling coalition MP Yogesh Bhattarai of CPN-UML has raised serious questions in Parliament over the government’s inability to secure the release of Bipin Joshi, the Nepali youth reportedly abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack in Israel.
Speaking during Saturday’s session of the House of Representatives amid the ongoing deliberations on the ministry-wise allocation of the national budget, Bhattarai asked why Nepal has failed to bring Joshi home, even though Israel and Hamas have exchanged hundreds of war captives since the outbreak of conflict.
“The global balance of power is shifting before our eyes, yet we’ve not been able to bring back Bipin Joshi,” Bhattarai said. “Why is it that, even as Hamas and Israel engage in prisoner exchanges, our citizen remains unaccounted for? What have we done to secure his release?”
He called for a thorough review of the diplomatic efforts made to date, questioning whether Nepal’s foreign policy stance or lack of assertiveness might be contributing factors.
“Have our diplomatic channels failed? Is it our posture on international matters that has left us stuck? Are we failing to garner sympathy from nations that could help us? We must examine and review our approach,” Bhattarai stressed.
Nepali youth Bipin Joshi was in Israel as part of a student exchange and work program when Hamas launched its attack in October 2023. He has remained missing since, with reports indicating he may have been taken hostage. The government has yet to provide a clear update on his status.
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