Nepali Congress, the main opposition in Parliament, has accused the government of being “selective” and “prejudiced” in implementing the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led commission’s report on the suppression of the September 8–9 protests.

Speaking to the media after the party’s parliamentary orientation programme held at its central office in Sanepa on Saturday, Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said that while the commission had made recommendations against various individuals and agencies, the government chose to target political leaders while forming a separate “study committee” for security personnel.

“The decision to arrest political figures immediately while deferring action against security agencies for the same incident and under the same report proves that the government’s conduct is selective,” the statement read.

The party warned that if the government fails to exercise restraint and continues to act out of “provocation”, the nation could once again descend into a cycle of conflict and instability.

“The government’s conduct appears biased. While we have not yet decided on street protests, we are demanding impartiality and a guarantee of fair treatment from the state,” Chalise said. He further criticised the commission’s report, claiming that the investigation into the events of September 9 lacked the depth of the inquiry into the previous day’s incidents.

The first Cabinet meeting of the newly formed Balendra Shah-led government on Friday moved to implement the findings of the Karki commission. Following this, police apprehended Oli from his residence in Gundu and Lekhak from Katunje on Saturday morning.

The arrests have triggered a political firestorm. The CPN-UML Secretariat, meeting at its Chyasal headquarters, has vowed to challenge the arrests both legally and politically. UML cadres have already taken to the streets in several districts, pledging to continue their agitation until their party chair is released.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari also weighed in on the controversy on Saturday afternoon, issuing a press statement urging the government to exercise restraint and withdraw the arrest orders to prevent unrest.