KATHMANDU: Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML), Mahesh Basnet, has accused the government of attempting to push the country toward conflict following the arrest of party chair KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak.
Taking to Facebook, Basnet described the arrests as the “height of political vendetta,” warning that such actions could destabilize the country’s democratic environment.
He stressed that the absence of political prisoners is a key indicator of a functioning democracy, alleging that the government’s move has tarnished Nepal’s international image.
Basnet also targeted the leadership of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, accusing the administration of promoting instability by appointing Sudan Gurung as home minister. He described Gurung as “inexperienced, controversial, and anarchic,” claiming the appointment had contributed to disorder in the country.
“The appointment of an inexperienced and controversial figure as home minister, along with the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, has created a situation that could escalate conflict in the country,” Basnet said in his statement. “Such activities reflect political revenge and bias.”
Basnet further criticized the police administration, alleging that while it has failed to protect state property and even its own security posts, it has mobilized large numbers of personnel to detain leaders who, he said, had fought for democracy.
He warned that the arrests could push the country back toward instability and conflict if not addressed.
In response, Basnet announced that the UML would launch street protests starting today, opposing what he termed politically motivated arrests and defending democratic norms and values.
He also called on party cadres and the general public to unite against what he described as “revenge-driven politics” and to actively participate in the protests.
The development signals a potential escalation in political tensions, as opposition forces mobilize against the government amid growing conflic over recent arrests and governance decisions.
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