Former presidents of NBA condemn PM’s remarks

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 24

Four former presidents of Nepal Bar Association — Harihar Dahal, Shambhu Thapa, Prem Bahadur Khadka, and Sher Bahadur KC — today issued a press release condemning Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s statement against nonagenarian Senior Advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari.

In reference to the petitioners who have challenged the prime minister’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, Oli had recently said at a public programme, “They took even a ‘grandfather lawyer’ to the bench to plead in their favour.

Why are they doing such theatrics?”

The PM had mocked 94-year-old Bhandari for pleading before the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioners.

The former presidents of NBA demanded apology from the PM for berating the lawyer and urged the NBA and all lawyers to protest against the PM’s remarks.

They have also demanded action against the PM for making contemptuous remarks.

The former NBA presidents said they decided to issue a press release as the PM had repeatedly been making degrading remarks against lawyers.

They said Bhandari is a living legend and a courageous lawyer who had pleaded on behalf of BP Koirala, Ramraja Singh, and even Oli when the latter was in jail.

The former presidents of the NBA said the PM’s remark against a former president of NBA was a blatant attack on advocates and their profession.

Senior Advocate Kumar Acharya today filed a contempt of court case against Oli for his remarks. The SC has, however, not registered the case yet.

Meanwhile, the NBA has issued a press release saying that the PM’s remarks were not only against Senior Advocate Bhandari and lawyers, but also against the court. The NBA has demanded an immediate apology from the PM.

 

The post Former presidents of NBA condemn PM’s remarks appeared first on The Himalayan Times.