KATHMANDU: What began as outrage over police firing in Sunsari and Siraha is now exposing deeper unease within the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), with several lawmakers publicly questioning both the government’s response and Prime Minister Balen Shah’s leadership style.
The tension that began in Kaptanganj of Dewanganj Rural Municipality-3 in Sunsari escalated further after spreading to Golbazar in Siraha. By Tuesday, four people who were shot by security personnel had died. RSP leaders say it is alarming that citizens lost their lives while protesting.
The issue was raised forcefully in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers demanded an explanation as to why security forces opened fire and how the situation reached the point where bullets struck above the waist. However, Prime Minister Shah did not appear in the House to respond.
RSP General Secretary Bipin Acharya called for a clear and impartial investigation into the government’s handling of the shootings, while several other lawmakers also raised the matter during Tuesday’s parliamentary session.
Lawmakers Amaresh Kumar Singh and Shivshankar Yadav questioned why live ammunition was being used even during what they described as ordinary disputes in Madhesh.
“My question to the state is this: why does every protest or dispute in Madhesh end in firing, whether during the Madhesh movement, the Tharuhat movement, or now? Did the government have no other option?” Singh asked. “Why are batons or tear gas not used first? Why is firing resorted to directly? If someone throws a stone at the police, will the response always be bullets?”
Singh also criticized the use of SLR rifles by police forces, saying such weapons were rarely used for crowd control in other countries. He had earlier expressed anger during discussions between the Prime Minister and Madhesh-based parties, demanding to know why security forces had opened fire in Kamar.
Shivshankar Yadav, who said he had visited both Siraha and Sunsari after the incidents, argued that the situation did not justify the use of lethal force. “I reached the scene of the incidents. I did not see a situation that required firing,” he said. “There was certainly no need to shoot people in the head or chest to restore order. I strongly condemn what happened.”
Yadav added that the use of firearms against Madhesh residents during ordinary disputes appeared to be becoming a dangerous trend. “In a democratic system, there can be no issue more important than the life and security of citizens,” he said.
As both opposition and ruling-party lawmakers continue to seek answers, attention is now focused on whether Prime Minister Shah will appear in Parliament and respond directly to the concerns raised.
The controversy has also fueled discussion about growing tensions within the RSP leadership. Reports have recently emerged of differences between Prime Minister Shah and party president Rabi Lamichhane. However, during talks with Madhesh-based parties on Friday, Shah reportedly insisted that there was no distance between him and the party president.
Party leaders say some ministers in Shah’s cabinet have also complained to Lamichhane about the Prime Minister’s working style, alleging that he ignores suggestions and runs the government in a highly centralized manner.
“We have already informed the party president about the difficulties in the government’s functioning,” a senior party source said. “We have discussed that things cannot continue in this manner. The president has said that the situation will be addressed and that the Prime Minister’s working style will change. The party leadership now needs to take this issue seriously.”
Amaresh praises Rabi for taking initiative
Amaresh Kumar Singh praised RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane for convening an all-party meeting and initiating dialogue with various stakeholders following the shooting incidents in Madhesh.
“I always appreciate the initiative taken by the Speaker,” Singh said. “Prime Minister Balen Shah should have addressed the nation in time and taken the initiative himself, but the response came late. That delay has caused further damage.”
RSP leader Manish Jha has also reportedly expressed dissatisfaction in several party meetings over the government’s handling of the shooting incidents in Madhesh. He is said to have raised serious questions about the role of both the Prime Minister and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung. Similarly, party whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar has reportedly made strong remarks within the party regarding the government’s response.
Prime Minister Shah addressed the nation only after the unrest spread from Sunsari to Siraha. Five days had passed since the incident that began in Kaptanganj, Dewanganj Rural Municipality-3 of Sunsari.
In a social media post, Shah urged people not to further politicize the Sunsari incident and appealed for cooperation in resolving the situation. A few hours later, the party also issued its official position, calling for an impartial investigation and stating that the incident should not be politicized.
However, several leaders within the party have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the government’s delayed response allowed the situation to worsen.
Opposition leaders also appreciated Lamichhane’s initiative, saying the Prime Minister should have taken the lead. Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, Madhesh-based leaders CK Raut and Prabhu Sah, Nepali Communist Party coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, and CPN-UML parliamentary party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa reportedly thanked Lamichhane for creating space for dialogue.
Growing differences between the government and party leadership
Party insiders say dissatisfaction is growing over the working style of Prime Minister Shah and Home Minister Sudan Gurung. According to sources, concerns extend beyond the incidents in Koshi and Madhesh to the perception that the Prime Minister and Home Minister are not sufficiently accountable to the party or to Parliament.
“The incidents in Madhesh and Koshi have raised further doubts about the Prime Minister and the Home Minister,” a party leader said. “Even if they did not directly order the firing, they responded late despite being in leadership positions. The government should have paid serious attention when the incident began in Kaptanganj on Sunday.”
The leader added that constructive criticism was emerging from within the party and that those serving in government must remain accountable to both the party and the public.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shah has reportedly told Madhesh-based leaders that the government was actively working to address the situation and was not remaining idle.
Quoting Shah’s remarks during a discussion, Madhesh leader Rajendra Mahato said, “We understand that there may be differences between the Prime Minister and the party leadership. We questioned his silence when the party chairman moved quickly. He replied that the government was doing its job.”
RSP leaders and supporters who had remained largely silent after the Sunsari and Siraha incidents are now increasingly critical of their own government. Their question, party insiders say, is simple: “If we asked these same questions to KP Sharma Oli yesterday, should we not ask them of our own government today?”
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