Kathmandu, Dec. 25 -- Nepali Congress leaders have advised former home minister Ramesh Lekhak to appear before the inquiry commission investigating the deadly crackdown of the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9 and record his statement.

A Congress leader, however, told the Post that "although Lekhak is willing to testify, he is facing pressure from party president Sher Bahadur Deuba not to appear before the commission."

The commission, led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, on Tuesday sent a summons to Lekhak, who was home minister during the anti-corruption movement that left 77 people dead and scores injured. Lekhak, a Congress leader, resigned on September 8 after 17 unarmed youths were shot dead by police outside the federal parl...