KATHMANDU, July 24: Relatives and rights activists have expressed dissatisfaction with the biggest ruling party, the Nepali Congress, for appointing Badshah Kurmi, an accused in the case of the abduction and disappearance of Banke’s Nirmala Devi Kurmi, as a minister in the Lumbini Province government. Badshah took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday.

Rights activist Ruby Khan, who has been fighting for justice to Nirmala since 2021, stated that this government is aligned with the oppressors. “We had an agreement with the Ministry of Home Affairs that the case would reach the court by the end of June. However, the case was halted under the pretext of being under review due to a collusion of the head of the attorney’s office, the Superintendent of Police, and the CDO,” Khan told Republica. “None of the parties in Nepal are sensitive to women's human rights issues. The state is not responsible for women's safety. This state and government always side with the perpetrators rather than providing justice to the victims.”

Recently, after 12 activists, including Khan, went on a hunger strike, the then home minister Rabi Lamichhane gave a written commitment on June 24 to bring those involved in the crime to justice. After Ruby and her team ended their 18-day hunger strike and returned to Nepalgunj, Ruby complained that the agreement was shelved at the ministry.

Khan and her team have staged sit-ins three times before. In October 2021, they marched on foot from Banke to Kathmandu as part of their protest. This led to an agreement between the then Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and Khan on October 18. The government formed an investigation committee under the Joint Secretary of the ministry, Hira Lal Regmi. Subsequently, complaints were filed at the District Police Office in Banke against eight people, including NC leader Badshah Kurmi. Based on these complaints, an investigation by the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended that an inquiry be conducted against the eight individuals, including Kurmi.

In October 2009, Nirmala's husband, Mahalal Kurmi, passed away due to natural causes. Following this, Nirmala lived with her two sons, 18-year-old Ramsagar and 14-year-old Suresh. However, in 2011, after both her sons died within a two-week span, she became destitute. Subsequently, a group became active in attempting to seize her house and 4 bighas of land. Activist Khan alleges that Badshah was the main perpetrator in this group. Badshah is accused of murdering Kurmi and seizing her land.

Badshah was directly elected to the Provincial Assembly from Nepali Congress for Banke Constituency No. 3(2) in the 2022 Provincial Assembly elections. He is also a member of the Constituent Assembly.

 
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