Former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli's remarks in a television interview have drawn criticism in political circles.

His language and statements aimed at the Commission of Inquiry into the 23 and 24 Bhadra incidents and the government are being criticized for not being of a political nature. 

In an interview broadcast on Himalaya TV on Sunday, Oli had said that those who refuse to give a statement to the Commission of Inquiry would be shot.

‘If they refuse to give a statement, they will be shot. Committing such a crime, refusing to give a statement! The result is out, refusing to give a statement! Those who commit such a crime will be shot. Do they have guns? Are they talking nonsense? They will be imprisoned for life for not giving a statement,’ he said. 

Such statements were made when the Commission of Inquiry was preparing to take a statement from Oli, who was the Prime Minister during the Gen-G movement. Oli, who has been saying that the Commission itself is unconstitutional, is adamant that he will not give a statement. The statements he made during the interview are being seen as an attempt to create pressure on the Commission and the government. 

Targeting Oli's statement, Prime Minister Sushila Karki has mentioned that there is no law to shoot people. In an all-party meeting on Monday, she said, "It is not always about singing the songs of political parties. The country should progress, there should be development. That is why everything does not happen overnight. It is not about arresting people and shooting them in Tundikhel, that is the law. We are people who know the law. There is a time for that too." 

Oli had previously commented on the government and the Inquiry Commission several times. At a press conference held in Gundu, Bhaktapur on 11 Asoj, he had said, "Will we run away abroad by handing over the country to this government of fools? We will have to build this country. We will not run away."

In connection with the statement of the Inquiry Commission, UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet had also challenged Oli to be arrested and produced.

At a press conference held at the UML party office in Chyasal on 22 Asoj, he had said, ‘If your father has the courage, arrest KP Oli.’

Even in the context of the vandalism and arson of his house by protesters on 24 Bhadra, leader Basnet has been making provocative statements on social media and public platforms. 

He has threatened to ‘cut’ if the allegations about sexual relations cannot be confirmed. On 29 Bhadra, he had said, ‘Who else is Tanka Dahal and Rajiv Khatri who are promoting Gen-G? That Rajiv Khatri who is saying a lot about me, from sexual scandals to other things. Confirm that too. Confirm it with a khukuri. If it is confirmed, I am ready to cut, if it is not confirmed, I will cut you.’

Basnet had also made objectionable comments about Prime Minister Karki calling Gen-G movement leader Sudhan Gurung ‘eldest son’. ‘Sushila Karki called my eldest son Sudhan Gurung. If the eldest son is Sudhan Gurung, who is his father? They say it is the Tibetan government. Is he Tibetan or Nepali? How did Karki's son become a Gurung has gone viral on social media.' 

UML leader Surya Thapa has also made non-political comments about Gurung.

In the context of Sudhan Gurung's visit to UML leader and former minister Kisan Shrestha's house in Bara, Thapa had said in an interview on Prime Television's 'Janta Jana Chanan', 'If you want to drag Sudhan Gurung, do you mean UML has to wait for two days? He fell when Kisan Shrestha was not there and went to Kisan Shrestha's house. If Kisan Shrestha was there, it would have been a pickle. Kisan Shrestha got the opportunity and was walking around pretending to be there. Why did he have to show that cowardice! He is a non-Gen-ji scoundrel. He is a scoundrel. He is a dacoit. He is a person involved in robbery.'

Similar public statements have been made by other leaders as well. After losing the posts of Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister and MP due to the Supreme Court's verdict on 22 Magh 2079, RSP President Ravi Lamichhane expressed his anger at the media. He had also made irresponsible statements regarding Ramesh Koirala's tweet. 

'Two people have shaken the country on Twitter. My puppet does not fly. People are walking around in fear that Ramesh Koirala writes tweets. What the hell! His intellectual capacity must be great,' he had said, 'But the extent to which he has extended his intellectual capacity is no more than the length of Gagan Thapa's sword.'

Lamichhane had repeatedly made statements in the House of Representatives such as 'I will quit politics if the allegations are proven'.

After allegations of embezzlement of cooperative funds were raised, Lamichhane challenged Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa to prove it on 28 Baisakh 2081 and also said that if it is proven, he would quit politics. Similarly, when a questioner asked about the accusation of bargaining, Lamichhane's reply was, 'If any person can bargain with me for anything at any time in history, I am ready to leave here naked without wearing a hat. Bring me proof.' 

Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta of the Oli-led government had said, 'I am ready to hang myself in Tundikhel if there is proof that I drank a cup of tea.' He made this statement after being accused of taking bribes in the land grab of a litchi orchard in Batulechaur, Pokhara. 

The term 'ready to hang' has also been used by other leaders. When RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, he had said, ‘If anyone proves that I have taken even a single rupee in any decision taken in the ministry under my responsibility, I will go to the open stage and hang myself.’

For him, the phrase ‘corruption is drinking one’s own mother’s blood’ has become a byword. 

After the then JSP MP Surendra Yadav was accused of kidnapping, then NCP MP Kisan Shrestha had said in the House of Representatives on 5 Jestha 2077, ‘A few weeks ago, Mahesh Basnet and I were accused of kidnapping. I would like to tell you, honorable gentlemen, that if the accusation is proven, I am ready to hang myself in front of all honorable gentlemen. Are the doctors who accuse us also ready to hang themselves?’ 

Recently, Gen-G movement leader Sudhan Gurung has also been criticized for making statements that hurt the sentiments of women. Targeting UML Chairman Oli, Gurung had said on Saturday, ‘Are you going to bring the country to a standstill? We are not sitting here wearing bangles. Let everyone remember.’

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah has also been writing objectionable ‘statuses’ on social media from time to time. He last made comments on America, India and China, as well as UML, Congress, Maoists, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and RPP, using obscene English words on the midnight of 16 Kartik. He added, ‘You all cannot do anything together.’ After intense criticism, he removed that status within a short time. But its ‘screenshot’ was spread across social media.

Balen had written a status on 16 Bhadra 2080, saying ‘Singh Durbar will be set on fire’.

The status written at 9:21 pm was, ‘Nothing happened for today, from tomorrow if any vehicle of our metropolitan city is stopped by the government, I will set Singha Durbar on fire. Remember, thief government.’ He also removed this status after widespread criticism.

When serious allegations are made against them, leaders often respond by threatening, swearing or using aggressive language instead of facing legal proceedings. ‘In Nepali politics, there has been a frightening trend of adopting a dramatic and emotional style instead of accepting the rule of law,’ analyst Suchita Pyakurel told Kantipur. ‘When leaders are accused, they make provocative statements like ‘shoot me’ or ‘if the allegations are proven, I will hang myself in Tundikhel’. This is a mockery of scientific political management.’