DHANUSA: Manish Jha, a leader and lawmaker of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has defended the participation of one of the party’s members in talks between the government and the Hindu Samrat Sena, saying RSP members are free to be Hindu activists.
Speaking to journalists in Janakpur on Sunday, Jha acknowledged that one of the representatives who took part in the negotiations on behalf of the Hindu Samrat Sena is an RSP member. The revelation had drawn criticism of the party, but Jha said the issue was being unnecessarily exaggerated.
He argued that being a member of a political party and participating in a movement based on one’s religious beliefs are matters of personal freedom. He said it was inappropriate to create controversy simply because an RSP member participated in the negotiations.
Jha claimed that the presence of an RSP member helped steer the movement toward dialogue rather than violence. He added that the government would continue discussions on the Hindu Samrat Sena’s legitimate and practical demands.
According to Jha, the government held nearly nine and a half hours of talks with representatives of the Hindu Samrat Sena. He said the discussions focused on refining the group’s demands so they would be constitutionally, socially and practically viable. Officials from the Home Ministry, the Madhesh Provincial Government, Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City and local elected representatives also participated in the negotiations.
“Our member was one of the 15 representatives. He is an RSP member, but he is also a Hindu activist, and that is his personal freedom. Hindu activists can also be members of our party,” Jha said. “Our members have lives beyond politics. They are free to come to the negotiating table from those roles. We listened to their concerns and accepted them for discussion. We will further examine the demands that are reasonable and justified.”
Jha said the government sought consensus only on demands that were practical and implementable. He added that after some stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction over not being included in the first round of talks, a second round lasting about two hours was held, during which they presented six additional demands and proposed revisions to some of their earlier requests.
He claimed the participants were satisfied after receiving assurances from Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and security officials. Jha also alleged that some political parties had attempted to undermine the negotiations but failed.
He urged the public to avoid activities that could fuel instability, warning that those who create conditions for unrest would not be immune from its consequences.
