Four Organizations Criticize PM Balen Shah's Parliamentary Remarks and Government Policies

Kathmandu. Four mass organizations have objected to the statement made by Prime Minister Balen Shah in the federal parliament. The organizations have strongly condemned and denounced the statement made by Prime Minister Shah from the rostrum of the House of Representatives on Jestha 17, saying, 'Nepal has encroached upon India's land in many places,' as cowardly and anti-national.

All Nepal Kisan Mahasangh (Revolutionary Center), All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), Nepal Dalit Mukti Morcha, and All Nepal Sukumbasi Sangh have criticized Prime Minister Shah by issuing a joint press release. The press release stated that such an irresponsible and childish statement made by the executive head of the nation in the supreme representative body like parliament has deeply hurt the national dignity of all Nepali people.

The organizations believe that this statement has severely impacted Nepal's established historical facts, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It has insulted the blood of the brave ancestors and great martyrs who raised the pride of Nepal by fighting heroically against Nepal's geographical unification, British colonialism, and Indian border encroachment, and never allowing the country to be colonized by foreigners.

All four organizations have called Prime Minister Shah's statement surrenderist and demanded that he immediately withdraw his statement through parliament and publicly apologize to the Nepali people.

The press release not only criticized Prime Minister Shah's statement on nationality but also strongly criticized the policies and working style of the government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). It has been alleged that the current government is trying to restrict the trade union rights that the working class of Nepal has achieved through long struggles. It is claimed that attempts are being made to ban the right of mass organizations, including students, teachers, and civil servants, to organize and struggle for their rights, which is contrary to the constitution of Nepal and international law.

Similarly, the press release has also raised the issue of demolishing houses and displacing thousands of citizens by bulldozing informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and various parts of the country without providing alternative arrangements. It has been alleged that the government has adopted a policy of displacing hundreds of thousands of landless Dalits, squatters, and disorganized residents across the country.

The conclusion of these organizations is that the policy and program and budget recently presented by the government are against the interests of farmers, laborers, Dalits, squatters, unemployed youth, low-income, and marginalized communities. It has been clarified that this government is anti-farmer, anti-laborer, anti-Dalit, anti-squatter, and anti-poor and oppressed communities by adopting neoliberal and anti-people policies that protect the interests of a limited class, ignoring issues of production, employment, agriculture, land reform, social justice, and livelihoods.

The press release has warned the government to immediately correct its anti-people policies. They have demanded that the democratic, organizational, and trade union rights of the citizens be respected, the right to land and safe housing for squatters and landless people be ensured, and the demands of farmers, laborers, Dalits, and squatters be addressed immediately.

The organizations have also warned that if the expression against national interest is not withdrawn and anti-people policies are not corrected, they will be forced to take to the streets in a strong struggle to protect the dignity and integrity of the nation.