Ministers Issue Threats Amidst Public Criticism

Kathmandu. 'Roads that should be built in two years are not built even in 20 years, our agenda is to build them in one and a half years', current Prime Minister Balen Shah had said in Dhangadhi last February, 'Whether it is by tying to a tree, or by lying on the road, or by putting in a cage, the road must be built.'

During the election campaign, Balen's statement in Dhangadhi, Sudurpaschim, 'the road must be built even if it means tying to a tree' had become controversial at that time. At that time, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) had put forward Balen as a future Prime Minister and made him a candidate for the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5.

At that time, construction entrepreneurs and stakeholders had objected to Shah's statement and insisted that he should publicly apologize.

Now, in exactly the same Balen style, Sunil Lamshal, the Minister of Physical Infrastructure Development in his government, has issued a statement saying to 'break the legs' of the contractor. While inspecting the Nagdhunga-Mugling road project on Sunday, Minister Lamshal instructed to 'break the legs' of the contractor who does not move the electricity poles. His statement has been strongly criticized and has become controversial.

Lamshal is being heavily criticized on social media for making a public statement as a responsible minister to 'break the legs' of a contractor who does not work.

'Where is the contractor of this pole, the electricity pole? Where is he on this earth? Find him and bring him here,' Minister Lamshal had instructed, 'Keep him here too. Not send him home. If he doesn't work, break his legs, it doesn't matter.' He emphasized that the poles should be moved as soon as possible and said that the general public is suffering a lot.

Earlier, Minister Lamshal had also had construction entrepreneurs Ramesh Sharma and Pitambar Badu taken into custody by a police team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.

Not only Minister Lamshal of the Balen government, but also Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has been embroiled in controversy due to his statements. When the opposition questioned him about the changes in tax rates a few days ago, Minister Wagle threatened to investigate the scandals of the MPs who raised questions and even the party itself.

While responding to questions raised on the budget in the House of Representatives last Thursday, Dr. Wagle's statement that he also knows about the scandals of those who question him and that those scandals will be revealed has led to protests from the opposition in the parliamentary session.

'I said in the Public Accounts Committee today as well, a couple of scoundrels wrote, that there is suspicion of two billion, etc., if I have committed any wrongdoing or dishonesty of two rupees, not two billion, I will resign from the ministerial post, I am ready to leave public life too,' Minister Wagle's statement was fine up to this point. But he went a step further and said, 'May the honorable members who point a finger at me also have the moral courage and moral height of two rupees. But are we unaware of your scandals? Those will also be revealed.'

Challenging Minister Wagle's threat, CPN-UML Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Padma Aryal stated in the House of Representatives meeting on Monday that the government has started a politics of threat to suppress constructive criticism.

She also stated that Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle adopted an irresponsible style while responding to the budget and challenged him to open the opposition's files.

'You have threatened to open files. Former speakers and honorable members have also spoken. I say today, let the file of Number One T-estate be opened first,' Aryal said, 'Whether it is Omni, or Wide Body, or whatever files are connected to the opposition, they are in your hands. I want to tell the government through this house, let them be opened. Let the truth be brought out.' Aryal also claimed that the opposition will not shy away from any investigation.

The statements and behavior of the MPs and ministers of RSP, which established itself in politics by questioning and criticizing the old political parties and their activities, have now embarrassed RSP itself and the general citizens.

After Minister Lamshal's 'break the legs' statement became public, Nepali Congress Vice-President Bishwa Prakash Sharma has even suggested Prime Minister Balendra Shah to rein in the speech of his ministers.

'Are we heading towards such a society, Prime Minister?' Sharma asked in a video message, 'If not, at least rein in the speech of your ministers.' Sharma also recalled the statement made by the Prime Minister himself during the election, saying 'tie to a tree'.