KATHMANDU: Lakhan Thapa Magar Memorial Foundation has demanded that CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli withdraw his statement where he said Bakabir was the first martyr of Nepal.
Organizing a press conference in Butwal on Thursday, the foundation demanded immediate withdrawal of the main opposition leader’s statement.
Foundation Chair Madhav Singh Salami Magar expressed surprise and suspicion over Oli’s remark as six years have passed since the government declared Lakhan Thapa Magar as the first martyr based on facts and verification process.
“Lakhan Thapa was declared the first martyr and postage stamps were issued, the same was printed in textbooks and general knowledge,” he said, adding, “Had Lakhan Thapa not been the first martyr, Oli should have dismissed the declaration while he was the Prime Minister himself. By speaking out of line now, he has been hurting the sentiment of the Magar community and also insulting us.”
Janak Thapa Magar, leader of the Magar Association, said that the Magar community would start a movement if the UML Chair did not retract what he said.
There have been regular protests in Rupendehi for the past few days against Oli’s statement that tagged Bakabir as the first martyr of Nepal.
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