Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki said on Sunday that during the anti -government protests last week, people involved in violence and destruction across the country will be brought into the dock of justice. Karki (73) also announced that those killed during the ‘Jane Z’ demonstration would be declared a “martyr” and their families would be given an ex -gratia amount of one million Nepali rupees.
He took over at the newly constructed Home Ministry Building at the Singh Darbar Secretariat of Kathmandu at around 11 am. Former Chief Justice of Nepal Karki was appointed as the acting Prime Minister by President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of the ‘Jane Z’ group. The group overthrew the KP Sharma Oli government on Tuesday through a two-day protest.
Meanwhile, sources in the President’s Office have stated that on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, President Paudel has appointed Kulman Ghising, Rameshwar Khanal and Om Prakash Aryal as ministers.
According to sources, Ghising will get the Ministry of Energy, Urban Development and Roads and Transport; Khanal will get Finance and Aryal will get the Ministry of Home Affairs. These three ministers will be sworn in at the President’s office on Monday afternoon. The government has transferred the Prime Minister’s Office to the newly constructed Home Ministry Building in the Singh Darbar campus after being set on fire in the Prime Minister’s Office during a violent protest on Tuesday.
Addressing a meeting of secretaries and senior government officials soon after taking over, Prime Minister Karki said that those involved in violence and destruction of public and private property will be brought to the dock of justice. He said that during the September 9 protest, arson and sabotage were “well-planned” and “Jane-Z ‘protesters were not involved in such activities.
Karki said, “The kind of arson and sabotage that has taken place is a criminal act. It was carried out in a planned manner. Those responsible for this should be punished. ”
He also directed Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aral to manage the repair of police posts that were destroyed across the country. The movement, which started against the ban imposed by the government on social media on Monday, soon turned into a big campaign, which showed a glimpse of public anger towards corruption and alleged indifference of the political class.
KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday when hundreds of agitators entered his office and demanded at least 19 people resign for the death of at least 19 people in police action during Monday’s demonstration.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Aryal said that the death toll during the agitation has increased to 72, including three policemen. He said that these include 59 protesters and 10 prisoners.