Rayamajhi commission grills two ex-ministers

The high-level judicial commission formed to investigate into the atrocities committed by the erstwhile royal regime during the people’s movement-II interrogated two former ministers on Sunday.

Commission members interrogated Khadga Bahadur G.C, the local development minister in the royal cabinet, and then minister of state for finance, Dr Roop Jyoti, at the commission’s office in Hahihar Bhawan in connection with their alleged role in the brutal clampdown on the people’s movement in April.

G.C, told reporters after the interrogation that he had no role in suppressing the movement as his ministry had nothing to do with security matters. He argued that those who dealt with the security agencies should take responsibility for the atrocities.

The former minister arrived at the commission’s office by a taxi at around 13:50 p.m.

Then state minister Jyoti, who is accused of introducing tax policies suitable to his business, refused to talk to the media. He is a member of the National Assembly appointed by the King.

Meanwhile, the commission summoned four other functionaries of the royal regime for interrogation on Monday. Those summoned are – chairman of the dissolved Raj Parishad, Parasu Narayan Choudhary, then ministers Prakash Koirala and Keshar Bahadur Bista, acting Inspector General of Nepal Police Basudev Oli, former assistant minister for education and sports, Bhuwan Pathak, then zonal administration of Bagmati, Prof Shekhar Gurung, then administrator of central region, Jagadish Khadka, and DIG of Armed Police Force Dilip Shrestha.

The probe commission headed by former Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi has already interrogated 30 key functionaries of royal regime including then cabinet vice-chairman-duo, Dr. Tulsi Giri and Kriti Nidhi Bista, in connection with suppression in the people’s movement. At least 21 persons were killed and over 4000 injured during the 19-day long agitation