Mahesh Basnet Criticizes Balen Government Over Rising Self-Immolation Incidents

Kathmandu. CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet has expressed concern over the recent continuous incidents of self-immolation and the resulting situation. In a post on social media Facebook, he accused the current Balen government of being responsible for the growing despair, anger, and helplessness among citizens.

Leader Basnet mentioned that while anger was rising from yesterday's incident of Ganesh Nepali's self-immolation, news came of 25-year-old Vivek Mandal from Godaita Municipality in Sarlahi and 45-year-old Ashwin Raut in Buddhanagar, Kathmandu, attempting self-immolation by pouring petrol on themselves. Stating that these incidents are extremely sad, he wished for the speedy recovery of all the injured.

Basnet stated that these continuous incidents raise a serious question as to why citizens are feeling so despairing and helpless. He claimed that the current Balen government had created great expectations among the public by falsely accusing old parties and leaders and spreading misinformation, and that the lack of results according to those expectations has led to increased despair and dissatisfaction among many.

Basnet clarified that the responsibility of any leadership is to provide trust, not misinformation, to the public. He emphasized that the solution to problems should be sought through dialogue, responsibility, and good governance while preserving the hopes and trust of the people. He stated that since nothing is greater than life, self-immolation or violence cannot be the solution to any pain. Leader Basnet warned that if the government fails to prevent such an environment from forming, the Balen government itself will be consumed by the public's anger.