Regmee, who was in a queue to enter the UML party function venue, got near Khanal and slapped him. Regmee hails from Bharaul-1 of Sunsari district. He slapped Khanal who was on the stage surrounded by hundreds of UML cadres and security personnel. [break]
Khanal was stunned by the slap. He broke into a blush and his spectacles fell. Immediately after the incident, police arrested Regmee.
Regmee, who was in Itahari to pay his electricity bill, was reportedly unaware of the function initially. “I learnt about the function after paying the bill and I then went to the venue,” Regmee said, adding, “I decided to slap Khanal as the politicians are ruining the country.” He said political party leaders have ruined the country, not forming the government, writing the constitution or taking the peace process to a positive conclusion. “I was angry with the party honchos. And I took the chance to vent my wrath,” Regmee told reporters after being arrested.
Regmee claimed that he has been taking part in various programs organized by the CPN-UML since 1990. “However, I voted for the UCPN (Maoist) in the constituent assembly election, thinking that the Maoists could give something to the country,” he said, adding, “I couldn´t tolerate the party leaders ruining the country and slapped Khanal to express my anger.”
Regmee clarified that he was not instigated by anyone to slap Khanal. “I am ready to face action as per the law. But no one has the right to ruin the country,” he added.
Regmi in police custody.
Regmee said that he slapped Khanal as the country is facing grave problems because of the latter´s stance of abstaining from parliamentary voting in the prime ministerial election.
“I watch TV every day. Party leaders including Khanal make false promises. But they have long failed to give any outlet to the country,” Regmee said, adding, “I was upset with Khanal for failing to give an outlet to the country. Given such a chaotic situation in Nepal how could he welcome unemployed youths on the pretext of their joining his party ?”
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has formed a committee headed by district Secretary Motiraj Sunuwar to investigate the “slapping incident.” Keshav Bista and Nanda Basnet are members of the committee. The committee is to submit its investigation report within a week.
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