Nepali Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa has warned the government against arbitrary use of state power, demanded accountability over police action against journalists, and challenged the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to take political responsibility for the government’s conduct.
Thapa made the remarks on Sunday after a Central Working Committee meeting at BP Smriti Bhawan in Sanepa. He said Congress would cooperate with the government on good governance and economic reform, but would oppose actions it considers violations of democratic rights, press freedom and the rule of law.
Journalist detentions
The meeting was called mainly over the police operation of October 30, when plainclothes officers visited several newsrooms in Kathmandu and took three journalists into custody for questioning.
Bishwamani Subedi of Nepal Press, Shobharaj Baral of Motivate News and Dhiraj Basnet of DNA Khabar were released later that day. Police also visited Naya Patrika looking for reporter Nawaraj Mainali and Diyo Post looking for editor Sudip Bishwakarma and news coordinator Madan Dhungana.
The operation followed a Nepal Press report of October 28 claiming the government was considering removing Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki.
Police spokesperson Abinarayan Kafle said the Cyber Bureau called the journalists after the Prime Minister’s Office raised concerns about reports and messages it considered misleading. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat denied prior knowledge. Press adviser Dipa Dahal said Prime Minister Balendra Shah ordered the release after learning of the incident.
Thapa said releasing the journalists did not resolve the matter and that it raised wider questions about how the government understands its authority and the constitutional freedom of expression. He said no person or group in government should behave as though it represents the state itself, and that legal powers must not become an instrument of political control.
Who authorised the operation remains unanswered.
Message to the RSP
Thapa said the RSP cannot claim credit for the government’s achievements while distancing itself from controversial actions. He recalled the party’s earlier criticism of Congress-led governments, when it argued that ruling parties must accept responsibility for their governments’ conduct, and asked whether the same principle applied now.
He said Congress supports investigations into corruption but insisted they be fair, consistent and evidence-based, criticising a process in which information is leaked, public reaction is gauged and only selected cases pursued.
He also called for stronger, independent institutions, including the police, civil service and judiciary, and for a focus on disaster rehabilitation, economic recovery and a predictable climate for investors.
Three unreleased reports
Thapa asked why the government has not made public three investigation reports.
A three-member committee headed by former judge Achyut Prasad Bhandari submitted a 45-page report on the assets of former Home Minister Sudhan Gurung to the Prime Minister in June. Nothing unusual in his landholdings was found whereas definitive conclusions on all monetary transactions and share investments was not established.
A commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki submitted a report of about 907 pages, including annexes, to then interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on March 8 on the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9, 2025, in which 76 people were killed, more than 2,500 were injured and damage was estimated at around Rs 85 billion.
A five-member Home Ministry committee under Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa submitted its report on August 18 on the July 26 clash in Kaptanganj, Dewanganj Rural Municipality-3, Sunsari, in which three men died of gunshot wounds: Om Prakash Mehta, 30, Jai Prakash Mehta, 20, and Ravindra Mehta, 22. The ministry said the findings were being examined.
Sunkoshi-Marin project
On October 30, Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Director General Dinesh Rajauria and project director Krishna Prasad Rijal were brought to the Prime Minister’s Office. Police took them from Siraha and Sindhuli on instructions and handed them over.
The Prime Minister’s Office said they were not arrested and were called to clarify the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project’s progress, adding that it asked police to help locate them after they became unreachable.
Three Chinese companies had qualified for financial evaluation, with bids due to be opened on November 2, but the dam and powerhouse contract was cancelled beforehand. The project is meant to irrigate about 122,000 hectares in five Madhesh districts. The motive for the cancellation remains disputed.
Internal dispute
The agenda also included the faction led by former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, which is holding a separate convention process with its central gathering planned for December 7 to 9 in Kathmandu.
The Thapa-led office-bearers, including senior vice-president Bishwa Prakash Sharma and general secretaries Pradip Paudel, Uday Shumsher Rana and Dila Sangraula, took their oath on October 29.
The Deuba faction has challenged their recognition, and the dispute involving the Election Commission and Supreme Court is pending.
Next steps
Congress has called a meeting of its parliamentary party at 8:30 am on Monday, November 2, at its parliamentary office in Singha Durbar. Thapa urged the RSP to use its own parliamentary party to seek explanations from the prime minister, and Congress intends to raise the journalist detentions and the government’s conduct in Parliament. The party is also expected to update its Central Working Committee details with the Election Commission on November 2.
