Kathmandu, August 22

The State Affairs Committee of the Parliament today set up a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged hate speech made by three Madhesi leaders Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato and Amresh Kumar Singh.

The panel was also mandated to recommend possible action against a recent decision taken by agitating Madhesi parties, which had made a public an offer of Rs 5 million for the kin of those who might be killed during protests.

Recently, Federal Socialist Forum- Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, Sadbhawana Party leader Rajendra Mahato and Nepali Congress lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh allegedly spoke against communal harmony in Kailali district.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam had provided an audio tape of their speech to the Constituent Assembly demanding action against them.

He had also submitted a press release issued by the leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front that pledged to provide Rs 5 million to the kin of those who might be killed during the protests.

The UDMF leaders had said that the money would be provided by Madhes/Tharuhat province to be formed in the federal set-up. The seven-members of the task force include lawmakers Sanjay Gautam, Shyam Dhakal, Hridaya Ram Thani, Dharmendra Sah Teli, Shiva Lal Thapa and Mahendra Bahadur Shahi. They have been asked to give the report to the Committee within three weeks.

Thapa, a lawmaker of Rastriya Janamukti Party, told THT that he refused to be a part of the probe committee.

The Chairman of SAC Dil Bahadur Gharti, suddenly announced my name as a member of the probe committee without my consent. Therefore I told him that I wouldn’t be a part of the committee,” he said.

In today’s meeting of the State Affairs Committee, a heated debate took place between DPM and Home Minister Gautam and NC lawmaker Singh once the latter claimed that over 23,000 Armed Police Force was deployed in Tarai district to defuse the protest-led by Madhesis and Tharus.

Gautam dismissed Singh’s claim as baseless and asked SAC Chair Gharti to caution NC lawmaker not to make baseless statements to the House panel.

Rastriya Janamorcha Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC cast doubt on the chances that the probe panel’s report would be implemented.