Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) presidium coordinator Rajendra Mahato has hailed the oath ceremony of Resham Chaudhary as an honour of democracy and people’s mandate.

Mahato made such remarks, while responding to media persons after Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chaudhary, the main accused in 2015 Tikapur incident. He made it clear that his party will not join the government though Chaudhary was administered the oath of office and secrecy.

Leader Mahato said his party will keep on piling pressure on the government until the latter amend the constitution, release the leaders and cadres arrested during the Tarai movement.

“Constitution is yet to be amended. The issue of those who are in the custody has not been settled. The pressure will be continued. The party won’t join the government,” he said.

The RJP-N had been putting pressure on the government to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Chaudhary, who was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Kailali-1 from RJP-N ticket, securing more than double the votes of his closest rival Madan Kumar Shah of then CPN-UML.

Chaudhary’s spouse Ranjita Shrestha and son were also present during the swearing in ceremony.

The oath ceremony initially slated for 11am was postponed for 3 pm as the Dillibazaar Jail administration was not made aware about the ceremony.

Chaudhary is the main accused in the lynching of eight police personnel and an infant in Tikapur of Kailali district of August 2015. He was on the run after being charge-sheeted for his alleged key role but later surrendered before Kailali District Court on February 26, 2018.