Bhairahawa, April 20

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was greeted with a black flag while he was addressing the Jitgadhi victory ceremony organised at Rupandehi’s Butwal today.

Rudra Ghimire from Arghakhanchi had shown the black flag to Prime Minister Oli. Ghimire had crossed five layers of security, reached the stage and shown the black flag. After showing the flag, Ghimire shouted, “Long live Jitgadhi. Long Live Ujir Magar. Nation is dearer than life.”

PM Oli was provided fivetier security by the Nepali Army, APF, Nepal Police, National Investigation Department and municipal cops and volunteers.

The black flag shown to Oli has shocked on-duty security personnel.

Upon noticing Ghimire’s activities Oli paused his speech, pointed at the security personnel and asked, “He is showing a black flag. What are you doing?”

After the PM’s utterance, on-duty security personnel sprang into action and took the youth under control.

Saying that the youth must have been mobilised by some force, Oli urged everyone to stay calm.

When Ghimire showed the flag to Oli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ishwor Pokhrel, Province 5 Secretary Umakant Jha, Chief Minister Shankar Pokhrel, former minister Bishnu Poudel, and high level security officers were on the dais with Oli.

Ghimire has been kept at Butwal Area Police Office.

Rupandehi SP Hridaya Thapa said that his office had directed the DSP at Butwal Area Police Office to investigate and file a case against Ghimire.

The government’s decision banning the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal had irked its leaders and cadres.

Earlier, the party had warned it would boycott the programme attended by Oli and shut down the district.

The party, however, had issued a press statement yesterday and made it clear that there was no programme of district shutdown today in Rupandehi.