The UML sought dismissal of Bhandari saying his recent remarks were detrimental to the national interest and could disturb communal harmony.[break]
"No patriotic Nepali can accept such remarks from the defense minister which are against the country´s integrity, national interest and unity as not even an ordinary person would dare to make such a statement," said a press statement issued by the party´s acting chairman Bamdev Gautam on Tuesday.
Stating that people from the Madhes were discriminated for long, Bhandari on Monday had warned that 22 districts in the tarai region could secede from the country if discrimination continued. "Which laws would stop us if we from the 22 districts decided to secede from Nepal," Bhandari said at a function.
The UML sought Sah´s dismissal based on reports that he was responsible for the murder of Kashi Tiwari, chairman of Hindu Youth Association Birgunj last year.
"A serious question has been raised (against the government) over the delay in sacking a minister accused in a civilian´s murder and the delay in carrying out investigation into the case when police have already issued a arrest warrant against the same minister," read the UML´s statement. "Our party strongly demands that the prime minister sack him and hand him over to police immediately."
However, the UCPN (Maoist) and Sah have separately denied the allegations. Sah said no arrest warrant as such has been issued against him as of now. "I enquired with the Constituent Assembly Secretariat about the matter, asked the police officials if there was such a development and also enquired with other concerned individuals but no one is aware about such development," Sah said at Reporters´ Club in Kathmandu Tuesday.
Also the UCPN (Maoist) denied the allegations. "The reports intend to influence the ongoing investigation by the concerned authorities and to disparage the image of our party and central committee member Prabhu Sah. Therefore our party expresses objection to such reports," read a statement issued by Maoist Spokesman Dinanath Sharma.
Related story
Aarti Sah death case: Husband Motibabu arrested
