Medical Entrepreneur Durga Prasai Criticizes Government for Celebrating Dalai Lama's Birthday While Ignoring King Prithvi Narayan Shah

Kathmandu. Medical entrepreneur and activist Durga Prasai has strongly criticized the current system for hesitating to celebrate the birthday of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal, while allowing the celebration of the Dalai Lama's birthday at the behest of foreigners.

Speaking at a press conference organized at his residence in Bhaktapur on Sunday, Prasai accused the government and the current political system of weakening nationalism. He commented that the country's dignity is at risk due to the government's policy of disrespecting the nation-builder who built the country, while patronizing foreign refugees and external figures.

"Those who spit on the photo of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who made Nepal a nation, and burn the flag are not punished, but those who talk about national identity are sought to be suppressed," Prasai said, "This government, which allows the celebration of the Dalai Lama's birthday in Kathmandu, is evicting its own country's squatters and poor."

Prasai expressed anger that Tibetan and Rohingya refugees are being sheltered in various places in Kathmandu, while Nepali citizens are becoming squatters and being driven away from riverbanks. He added, "What a tragedy that foreigners get refuge in our country, but Nepalis cannot even find shelter on the riverbank?"

At the press conference, he said that the high interest rates of banks and financial institutions and the collections in the name of traffic fines are snatching away the right to live of the general public. Citing the recent case of Ganesh Nepali, who allegedly committed suicide due to inability to pay traffic fines, he claimed that the government is forcing the poor to die.

He warned of launching a strong movement against this system by the upcoming Dashain, alleging that the government is trying to suppress the voice of the people by keeping him under 'house arrest'.