KATHMANDU: The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau has summoned Swagat Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) candidate from Jhapa constituency No. 2, the party has said.
RPP spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shrestha accused the state machinery of attempting to pressure the party’s Jhapa-2 candidate under the pretext of past statements. He said Nepal, an advocate by profession, was being targeted to discourage him during the election campaign.
Shrestha said Swagat Nepal was not alone and recalled the party’s political history, noting that late senior leader Deepak Bohora had once defeated the sitting home minister in an election despite being unwell and without delivering campaign speeches.
“Based on past expressions, the state apparatus is now trying to demoralize Jhapa-2 candidate advocate Swagat Nepal, which is objectionable,” Shrestha said, adding that Nepal was neither ignorant of the law nor someone who should be silenced.
According to Shrestha, the government has gone on the offensive against RPP candidates after the party fielded candidates nationwide to create an alternative political force against misgovernance and corruption. He alleged that unnecessary and outdated issues were being raised to harass RPP candidates.
Shrestha said the Cyber Bureau in Bhotahiti called Swagat Nepal and asked him to appear, citing statements he had made before joining RPP and remarks delivered during a program at Bhrikutimandap on the occasion of National Unity Day. He said Nepal was not affiliated with RPP at the time those remarks were made.
The RPP spokesperson argued that it was unacceptable to harass Nepal merely for speech when individuals who had made incendiary remarks, including calls to burn Singha Durbar, had gone unpunished even after carrying out such acts.
Shrestha said candidates contesting elections with party tickets should be allowed to proceed with their campaigns as per the party’s schedule. He added that Swagat Nepal is currently busy campaigning in Jhapa-2.
Warning the government, Shrestha said any attempt to obstruct election activities by creating unnecessary trouble would not be tolerated, though assistance to facilitate campaigning would be welcome.
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