Opposition Leader Angdembe Criticizes Government Over Vehicle Parking Incident

Kathmandu. Chief opposition Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has expressed serious objection to the incident of vehicles being parked suspiciously in front of various media houses and the house of Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa. He made a strong comment linking this incident to the intolerance of criticism of the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah.

Angdembe stated that the ability to tolerate criticism is the strength of the government in a democracy.

'The greatest strength of a government in a democracy is its ability to tolerate criticism. But when the government starts fearing criticism, it tries to target the questioners,' he wrote on his status.

He said that parking a vehicle in front of the gate appears to be aimed at suppressing the independent press and the opposition.

'The incident of parking a vehicle in front of the gate is not just blocking the way, but an attempt to silence critical voices,' he said, 'This incident is an attempt to psychologically pressure the leadership of the independent press and the opposition parties, to instill fear, and to warn them that if you question, you will face consequences.'

He also stated that the media and the opposition are not enemies of the government.

'The media and the opposition are not enemies of the government. They are mirrors that show the state's activities as they are to the public. Breaking the mirror does not make the face beautiful.'

Leader Angdembe said that even by blocking the gates of media houses and opposition leaders who question the government regarding incidents like the suicides of people due to state mistreatment in Mugu and unemployment in Sarlahi, the voice of the people cannot be stopped, citing issues like cooperative victims, loan shark victims, and landless problems.

'A vehicle may be able to block the gate, but the voices of the people cannot be blocked. History has proven that even if the gate is blocked, the path of questioning is not closed,' he said.

On Monday, unknown individuals had parked vehicles unauthorizedly in front of Kantipur, OnlineKhabar, Himalaya Television, Congress President Gagan Thapa's house, and Bhatbhateni Supermarket. Leaders of RSP were found to be involved in this incident. After this, criticism of the Balen government and RSP has increased.