KATHMANDU: Home Minister Sudan Gurung has apologised for his remarks made during a National Assembly meeting after his response to questions regarding the Nirmala Pant murder case drew criticism.
During a discussion on disaster management, Gurung had reacted sharply when National Assembly member Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma raised questions about the long-pending investigation into the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant from Kanchanpur.
Following criticism over his remarks, Gurung admitted from the parliamentary rostrum that his language had become harsh and apologised to lawmakers.
“We still have much to learn from you. We will continue learning. I feel my expression may have been somewhat harsh,” Gurung said while addressing lawmakers. “For that, I apologise and would like to seek forgiveness.”
The minister said discussions in Parliament should remain focused on issues and apologised for creating an uncomfortable situation through his choice of words.
Earlier in the meeting, lawmaker Bishwakarma had questioned why the government had failed to provide justice to Nirmala Pant’s family and asked when they could expect justice.
In response, Gurung had questioned why previous governments had not resolved the case while they were in power.
“Why was this not done when you were in government?” he asked, urging lawmakers not to repeatedly raise the issue in a way that would further hurt the victim’s mother.
After Gurung suggested that the issue should not be raised again in the National Assembly, Bishwakarma objected, saying lawmakers have the right to question the government and ministers must provide answers.
Bishwakarma again asked the minister to specify how many months or days it would take for Nirmala to receive justice.
Gurung had declined to answer the question directly before continuing with responses to other lawmakers.
The Nirmala Pant case, which dates back to 2018, remains one of Nepal’s most closely watched unresolved criminal investigations.
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