Himalayan News Service

Nepalgunj, May 26:

Nepali Congress general secretary, Sushil Koirala, was released today after being arrested for his speech against the royal move on February 2. He had defined the February 1 move as unconstitutional and undemocratic and had expressed the need for an agitation to restore democracy. “The upcoming agitation will be peaceful,” he told the media after being released.

He demanded the restoration of press freedom and fundamental rights. When asked about the party’s activities, Koirala said that he had no idea as he was in custody. Likewise, member of National Assembly Tilak Neupane, former minister Shivaraj Joshi, advisor of NC Dr Arun Koirala, Narayan Poudel, Mohan Bikram Singh, Ramesh Acharya and district vice-president of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party Narharinath Yogi were also been freed today.

Our Palpa reporter said that president of NC, Palpa, Rajan Prasad Pant and general convention member Devraj Dhakal were also freed today.

Meanwhile, another report from Kathmandu said the government today released some political and student leaders detained after the February 1 move as per the Supreme Court’s order issued yesterday. The CPN-UML standing committee member and former minister Keshav Badal and youth leader of Nepali Congress Chandra Bhandari were released after being produced before the Kathmandu District Court. Other leaders, including former minister Mod Nath Prashrit, Hemanta BC, Tanka Rai, Rishi Kattel, Dambar Shrestha, Mahendra Katila and Gopalmani Acharya were released after being produced before the Bhaktapur District Court. Two student leaders, Thakur Gaire and Pradeep Paudel, were also released after being produced before the Lalitpur District Court. After being released, the UML leader, Badal said that since the parties have already launched a movement for the restoration of full democracy, they would not compromise with the King at any cost. “Unless the rights of the people are restored we would not stop the movement,” he said, adding, “Only full democracy can ensure people’s rights, therefore, there is no alternative than to fight for its achievement.”

Badal urged the citizens to join the agitation.