After government turns a deaf ear, citizens send letter to ruling parties

Kathmandu-based intellectuals and activists have written a letter to the chiefs of the parties represented in the government demanding that Renu Kumari Yadav should be sacked.

NL Today

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Kathmandu: A group of citizens, who had earlier drawn the attention of the government to take action against the minister who had threatened to repeat ‘Gaur massacre’, has made a fresh appeal to each political party represented in the government to take action again the minister, reiterating their earlier demand that such a minister should be relieved of duty.

The letter signed by Kathmandu-based intellectuals and activists including Dr Kedar Narsingh KC, Charan Prasai, Ganesh Kumar Mandal, Sushil Pyakurel, Taranath Dahal, Indra Prasad Aryal, Mahamunishwar Acharya and Kanak Mani Dixit has asked the five parties in the ruling alliance to take action against  Renu Kumari Yadav, the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in the government.

The letter sent to the chiefs of five parties in the government— Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of NCP (Maoist Center), Upendra Yadav, chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party, Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairman of NCP (Unified Socialist) and Chitra Bahadur KC, chair of Rastriya Janamorcha—states that the parties in the ruling coalition have stood mum even after minister Yadav’s open threat of target killings and proud acknowledgment of past massacre.

The civil society members had issued a joint statement demanding that the minister should be dismissed on January 21, two days after minister Yadav’s objectionable remarks in Gaur.

The fact that those who rose to power by swearing to abide by the constitution and protect democracy have not spoken a word in reaction even after a minister flagrantly issued anti-constitutional remarks means that they have acquiesced in and supported impunity, says the letter.

The civil society members had issued a joint statement demanding that the minister should be dismissed on January 21, two days after minister Yadav’s objectionable remarks in Gaur. They had demanded that Prime Minister Deuba should immediately relieve Minister Yadav of her post and start legal proceedings against her.

On January 19, Renu Kumari Yadav, who is the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, had threatened CK Raut that he could meet the same fate as those who were killed at the rice mill of Gaur in 2007. She had said, “That rice mill still remains. If you want to face the storm we will repeat what happened in that rice mill.”

The rice mill is where more than two dozen unarmed people had been mercilessly killed on March 21, 2007.

Even though Minister Yadav made such remarks and there have been widespread criticisms against the government and the ruling alliance, none of the parties in the ruling alliance have spoken against Yadav.  Renu Yadav has accused the media of misinterpreting her remarks. However, available video records show that she had uttered controversial statements.