Coordinator of Naya Shakti Nepal Baburam Bhattarai has said that the Indian government should apologise for the  March 9 killing of Gobinda Gautam by the Shasastra Seema Bal at the Nepal-India border in Punarbas of Kanchanpur. 

“As a good neighbour, India should apologise for the incident and provide compensation to the family of Gobinda Gautam,” said Bhattarai at a programme in Dhangadhi on Sunday. 

“The reluctance of the Indian government to apologise for Gautam’s death is contemptible.” He added that the weak presence of Nepal government at the Nepal-India border area was also partly responsible for the Punarbas incident.

The former prime minister also said that the government should first address the demands of Madhesis, Tharus, Janajatis and other marginalised communities before holding the three-tier elections.

“We are in favour of the elections, but the government should make a suitable environment by amending the constitution,” he said.