KATHMANDU, July 25: The Nepali Congress (NC) is facing widespread criticism for appointing Badshah Kurmi, who is accused of the abduction and murder of Banke’s Nirmala Devi Kurmi, as a minister in the Lumbini Province government. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), civil society, and rights activists have expressed strong dissatisfaction against this decision. Badshah took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday.

Rights activist Ruby Khan, who has been fighting for justice for 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 between 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.”

Similarly, the NHRC has directed the government not to appoint controversial people to public positions. Releasing a press note on Wednesday, the NHRC stated that the appointment of socially and morally controversial people to public positions has drawn its serious concern.

“Regarding the situation in which the Commission has received information that the Government of Nepal, the Constitutional Council, and various responsible bodies of the state have recommended and are in the process of appointing people who are socially and morally controversial and who are in the process of state action and investigation on various charges, including criminal, to high positions in the executive, constitutional bodies, and various public bodies. This has received the serious attention of the National Human Rights Commission,” the NHRC said in the statement.

The NHRC stated that according to the fundamental principles of democracy, individuals appointed to state bodies must have a socially clean image, be free from controversy, possess high moral character, and should not have been convicted of any criminal charges. The NHRC urged the government that appointing legally controversial people would be against the rule of law and promote impunity.

The Brihat Nagarik Aandolan, an alliance formed by civil society members and people from various walks of life, has also expressed dissatisfaction regarding Badshah's appointment. Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, it urged the government to stop rewarding people who have been accused of serious crimes. “NC leader Badshah Kurmi, who is accused of serious crimes and recommended for investigation by the home ministry's probe committee, the ruling political parties, including Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, have mocked the rule of law by appointing him as a minister without a portfolio in the Lumbini Province government,” Brihat Nagarik Aandolan said in a press release.

Brihat Nagarik Aandolan demanded the immediate dismissal of Badshah and the initiation of an investigation and legal proceedings against him. It also warned that the public's faith and trust in the current political system and the concept of the rule of law would erode if that is not done.

After a dozen 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 Khan and her team ended their 18-day hunger strike and returned to Nepalgunj, Khan 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 bare 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. Based on these complaints, an investigation by the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended that an inquiry be conducted against the eight individuals, including Badshah.

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 Nirmala and seizing her land.

Badshah was directly elected to the Provincial Assembly from the 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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