Ramesh Lekhak Clarifies No Orders Given to Use Force or Open Fire in zen z protest

Kathmandu: Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has clarified that he did not give any written or verbal orders to use force or open fire during the incidents that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24.

Holding a press conference on Monday after giving his statement to an inquiry commission, he stated that no law gives the Home Minister the authority to direct the use of force. He explained that there is no question of a Home Minister giving written or oral orders to use force during protests, as there is no such legal provision. 

He mentioned that a person leading the political side of the government does not have the legal responsibility, the technical knowledge, or the practical role to decide whether to use force or how much to use. He insisted that no such orders were ever issued.

Furthermore, he informed that the security agencies deployed at the scene are the ones who analyze the situation and decide how to control a protest, how much force to use, and when to use it based on objective facts. 

He stated that the Local Administration Act and other laws clearly give the responsibility to take such decisions to the security agencies and designated local officials.

Lekhak believes that tragic incidents occurred because of widespread infiltration in the protests. He remarked that elements wishing to "fish in muddy waters" played with the emotions of Gen-Z and deliberately turned a peaceful protest into a violent one. 

He noted that the Gen-Z protests were hijacked by anti-democratic elements. When violent incidents occurred near the Parliament House in New Baneshwor, Gen-Z leaders even sent messages on social media saying their movement was successful but was being hijacked and made violent, asking their friends to return home.

He added that as someone who has spent a long political life fighting for democracy, the rule of law, and civil liberty, and as a member of the Nepali Congress, he could never think of obstructing the citizens' right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and the right to criticize.

Lekhak stated that he decided to resign immediately out of moral responsibility as the Home Minister after the unimaginable events in the country. 

He expressed that the violent incidents against national existence, self-respect, and democracy that happened on Bhadra 24 after his resignation were completely outside the thoughts and plans of the Gen-Z generation.