Kathmandu, December 4

Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa urged the government to take a credible step to ensure the security of candidates and the voters during election.

“The government must answer about the well planned bomb explosion at Budhanillkantha during mid-day,” he said.

Addressing a mass meeting at Siphal today in his constituency right after getting injured by a bomb explosion in Chapali Height during door-to door campaigning, Thapa said that such violence could not discourage people’s participation in the democratic process. “What do you want to do? Scare us?” he questioned those responsible for the explosion. Gagan addressed the rally with a bandage on his head.

Describing the incident, Thapa said, “We suffered due to the bomb explosion while returning from Chapali Height to another place, Lord Pashupatinath saved us.” Describing the horrible situation further, he said, “Some children were also following me for a photograph, It still terrifies me when I think what the situation would be if those children had reached near us.”

Thapa also thanked all the persons who had shown their concern about his health and apologised to his opponent UML’s Rajan Bhattarai, who was obstructed when he went to Teaching Hospital  to meet Thapa.

Thapa termed those responsible for the explosion ‘cowards’. “They want to terrified us. If we  stop election campaign or do not cast vote out of fear,  they will win,’ he said. He also said the politics of violence would not be discouraged, until every political force rejected violence unconditionally.

Thapa also urged people to defeat those responsible for bomb explosions with their ballots. “I urge all to cast vote,  it might be in my favour or against me, but your vote will defeat those who explode bombs.

Other speakers in the mass meeting included NC leader Prakash Man Singh, who condemned the explosion.