Congress Leader Angdembe Criticizes Government's Handling of Squatter Settlements

Kathmandu. Chief Opposition Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party Leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has expressed serious objection, stating that the government has pushed citizens removed from squatter settlements into even more dire risks.

Issuing a statement on Sunday, he also questioned Prime Minister Balen's public commitment to the safe management of squatters. 'I still remember a public commitment made by the Prime Minister – 'Safe and organized relocation will be arranged for citizens living in unsafe places at the risk of their lives.' Today, I want to ask the Prime Minister. Where did that commitment disappear? Is this the safe and organized management you promised?' Angdembe said.

According to him, the reality has been exposed that the government, in the name of saving them from risk, has not freed the displaced squatters from risk but has pushed them from one risk into another, even more dire risk, as the holding center in Kirtipur where they were kept has been submerged.

Angdembe stated that the squatter citizens who received assurances of safe shelter are now forced to live a painful life amidst hunger, water, mud, scarcity, and insecurity. He described this as a glaring example of the state's irresponsibility, insensitivity, and failed governance in not being able to fulfill public commitments made to squatter citizens.

Angdembe also objected to the government trying to prohibit the right to question. 'What is even more sad and shameful is that the youths, including Majid Ansari, who went to that very holding center to understand the condition of the victims and seek answers from the government, were forcibly taken into custody. I want to ask, since when did asking questions become a crime in a democratic system?' he said.

Angdembe stated that Prime Minister Balen, instead of self-reflecting after failing to fulfill his own commitment, is suppressing citizens who ask questions, which is an attack on democracy, freedom of expression, and civil rights.

He urged Prime Minister Balen to answer for the promise made to the squatter citizens, saying, 'Prime Minister, answer for the promise you made to the squatter citizens. Because history will keep a record not of your hollow speeches, but of whether the commitments made to the citizens were fulfilled or not.'