Opposition Criticizes Government Over Youth Suicides and Unresolved Issues

Kathmandu. The main opposition party Nepali Congress has stated that the incident of 25-year-old Ganesh Nepali of Mugu setting himself on fire in front of the Passport Department is mocking the country.

Speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Friday, Chief Whip Basana Thapa said that due to the state's failure, youth are forced to choose death. 'Prime Minister, do you remember or have you forgotten the status written by Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah when Prem Acharya self-immolated in front of the parliament building on January 10, 2079? Why is your silence on yesterday's incident?' Thapa asked.

MP Thapa objected to the state dragging Ganesh Nepali, who was engulfed in flames, away like a criminal by deploying police instead of sending an ambulance, saying,

'I want to ask the government—is this a rescue or an arrest, government? Is he a traitor? His only mistake is that he was born in this country and vowed to do something here,' Thapa said.

Stating that the series of evictions of squatters and suicides of youth has not stopped even after the new government came to power, MP Thapa accused the government of being solely focused on social media and digital engagement. She questioned why the state has become so helpless and failed, citing examples of 17-year-old Rabin Tamang, 61-year-old Indrabahadur Rai, and a squatter woman who jumped into Dhobikhola.

To Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Thapa said, 'Prime Minister, it is time to take off the black glasses. Citizens will not feel safe just by painting the green Sajha Yatayat bus blue. Security is felt when the state delivers justice, creates employment, and establishes good governance.'

MP Thapa mentioned that the heavy fines imposed on vehicles and the state's insensitive policies have disappointed the youth, and stated that the government should correct its working style by looking at the face of the deceased Ganesh Nepali.