MP Gyan Bahadur Shahi Criticizes Government's Absence During Karnali Disaster

Kathmandu. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Parliamentary Party Leader Gyan Bahadur Shahi has objected in parliament, stating that the citizens of Karnali did not feel the presence of the state during the disaster. Speaking for a special time in the House of Representatives meeting, MP Shahi criticized the government and representatives for being busy with power sharing and ministerial travels while citizens were drowning in the Karnali river begging for their lives.

"Today I have not risen to speak, pain has spoken. The mournful cry of Karnali has echoed in this parliament. The call of citizens seeking rescue reached the riverbank, but it did not reach the ears of the state," Shahi said. Recalling the horrific scene of people screaming "Save us" while a car fell into the Karnali river, Shahi questioned the state's insensitivity. "People were begging for their lives in the middle of the river, and at the same time, a helicopter was seen in the sky. But it was not for rescue, it was for the travel of a central minister," he said. "On one hand, ministers were traveling by helicopter, and on the other hand, MPs were fighting saying they didn't get enough share in the provincial assembly. But the helpless citizens of Karnali were flowing in the river without getting rescued." Shahi expressed anger, stating that it took 5 hours for security personnel to reach the accident site and they did not even have the necessary rescue equipment. "By the time the security personnel arrived, it was too late. It seemed like they came to collect the report, not to rescue," he said. "This is not just an accident, it is the failure of the state." He informed that 6 citizens are still missing in the incident. Shahi, who also lost relatives and family members in the accident, said, "Are the people of Karnali not citizens of this country? If Karnali is also Nepal, why is the state absent during disasters? Why the discrimination?" MP Shahi demanded a clear answer from the government about the value of the lives of the people of Karnali. He made a special request to the Speaker to immediately issue a ruling in the name of the government, to make public the truth of the incident, to take action against those who delayed the rescue, and to arrange for appropriate relief for the victim families.