KATHMANDU, Oct 16: Hours after his party decided to recall him, Minister for Land Reforms Prabhu Sah, who has been dragged into a murder case, resigned on Sunday. In light of the widespread demand for his resignation, a meeting of the party´s top office bearers took a decision to this effect.
Issuing a statement on Sunday, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated that his party decided to recall Sah as the issue had diverted the whole country´s attention from the more urgent issues of the peace process and constitution drafting. [break]
“Taking into account the accusations against comrade Prabhu Sah, who represents our party in parliament, our party decided to recall comrade Sah so that valuable time does not get wasted over the issue,” reads a statement issued by Dahal.
On Thursday, Dahal had publicly stated after a meeting of the Maoist parliamentary board that Sah was innocent and would not resign.
The main opposition the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have been obstructing the parliamentary proceedings demanding the resignation of Sah and Defense Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari over his controversial remarks on national integrity.
The District Police Office, Parsa had issued an arrest warrant against Sah in connection with the murder of Hindu Yuba Sangh Chairman Kashinath Tiwari. Police suspected Sah´s involvement in the murder based on the statement of one Aman Kushwaha, who is in judicial custody. Aman has claimed that Sah masterminded the murder and that Siyaram Kushuwaha, Sah´s aide, who pulled the trigger on Tiwari, had ridden pillion with the former.
The District Public Prosecutor´s office had, however, declined to file any case against Sah citing lack of sufficient evidence. But the Public Prosecutor´s Office filed the case against Siyaram against whom there was no proof except Aman´s statement.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai´s Press Advisor Ramrijhan Yadav stated that the party had to reverse the earlier decision and decide to recall him after the parliamentary parties began obstructing the House.
“The issue was blown out of proportion and that prevented the whole peace process from moving ahead,” said Yadav. He argued that the Madhes-based parties had asked the Maoists not to recall him and let the opposition parties disrupt the proceedings. “But as the largest and responsible party, we decided to recall him,” he said.
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