Lawmakers from the main opposition party the CPN-UML have demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

During a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, UML lawmakers said those leading the home administration were responsible for the death of the two youths during the Balkumari protest on December 29, and demanded that Minister Shrestha step down from his post.

UML lawmaker Rajendra Rai stated that the home administration must take responsibility for the incident, and that Shrestha must resign to create an environment of independent probe into the matter.

“You should resign with immediate effect as a resolution to the problem must be found without any delay,” Rai said in the House committee meeting.

Rai claimed that the committee would not be able to carry out a probe independently with Minister Shrestha leading the ministry.

Lawmaker Krishna Gopal Shrestha of the same party also stated that the home minister must step down on moral grounds. He also added that the ministry leadership can’t escape from its responsibility by just blaming the minister’s personal security officer, the Deputy Superintendent of Police on field, and EPS officials.

Another UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant echoed them.

The incident shows that the home ministry doesn’t have strong command over the security forces, Pant said.

“You cannot just put the blame on the officers. Transferring them to the ministry will not save you from the wrath of the public.”