Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that the government’s decision to impose a travel restriction and seize his passport without providing him any prior information is against the rule of law, the Constitution, and existing legal provisions.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday immediately after recording his statement at the Investigation Commission, Lekhak made these remarks.
He stated that, acting on the commission’s recommendation, the government had imposed a ban on him from leaving the Kathmandu Valley and had seized his passport, but he came to know about these decisions only through the media. He said he had not received any information regarding under which provision of existing law, for what purpose, with what justification, and for what duration the travel restriction and passport seizure were imposed.
Lekhak said he had neither been informed in writing or verbally, nor given an opportunity to be asked or to present his explanation. He stressed that receiving due information both before and after such a decision falls within the principles of the rule of law and fair hearing, but this was not followed in his case. He added that making such decisions without reason and without information is contrary to constitutional and legal provisions, and urged the government, the commission, and all concerned bodies to pay serious attention to the matter.
He also clarified that during the course of the movement, clashes occurred due to planned infiltration, and categorically stated that he had no involvement whatsoever in any police repression.
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