Lamichhane Urges Government Maturity and Rule of Law Following High-Profile Decisions

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has sharply criticized the government’s recent conduct, openly questioning whether due process was observed in high-stakes actions including the police detention of journalists and the unexpected removal of Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki. Speaking at a public gathering in his home district of Chitwan, Lamichhane emphasized that adhering to the rule of law and preserving democratic processes are essential, warning that the administration must avoid projecting an impression of political immaturity or abusing state power to target opponents. The controversy stems from police entering newsrooms to detain journalists and the subsequent cabinet decision to transfer Karki to a newly created security advisory role while appointing Manoj Kumar KC as inspector general. While government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel stated the cabinet acted under party instruction following unauthorized reports about the police chief, RSP spokesperson Jagadish Kharel clarified that the party had issued no such directives, exposing a visible coordination gap between the ruling party and the government. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai warned that publicly airing internal disagreements harms democracy, advising the younger RSP leadership to learn from past political missteps, while political analyst Ram Gurung noted that such concerns ought to be resolved internally rather than through public discourse. A senior RSP leader close to Prime Minister Balendra Shah acknowledged that poor communication exists between party leadership and the cabinet, though RSP spokesperson Kharel maintained that Lamichhane’s statements represent constructive guidance rather than open hostility. Ultimately, Lamichhane reiterated that press freedom and institutional integrity were achieved through long sacrifices, reminding ruling party members to exercise power with humility, maintain proper administrative balance, and defend fundamental democratic principles.