Dipesh Shrestha:
Kathmandu, 20 May: Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been removed from the main Republic Day celebration committee after being consistently absent from its meetings.
On Monday, during a meeting of the main committee formed to celebrate Republic Day 2082 BS with grandeur under the chairmanship of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Balen was absent. As a result, he was removed from the committee.
In the past two years as well, Balen had been absent from the main committee meetings. During today’s meeting, when Mayor Balen was not present, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, who attended the meeting, was questioned by PM Oli about Balen’s absence. After Dangol informed that Balen had not come, PM Oli expressed his concern.
Upon learning that Balen had not attended the meeting, PM Oli stated that if there is no faith in the republic, there is no point in keeping him in the committee, according to sources.
“He (Balen) does not seem to have faith or interest in the republic. He has not participated in previous meetings either,” PM Oli said during the meeting. “His statements from time to time also do not reflect his commitment to the republic. So, what is the point of keeping him in the committee formed to celebrate Republic Day?”
Balen has often been criticized for his alleged lack of faith in the republic. Particularly, as he has been aggressive toward government and political party leaders, questions have been raised about whether he is against the republic.
However, on Falgun 15 (February 27), the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, under Balen’s direction, sent a letter to former King Gyanendra at his residence, Nirmal Niwas, imposing a fine of over seven lakh rupees for the damage caused by royalists during their program in the Tinkune area of the capital.
This move of his faced widespread criticism. Some commented that Balen’s step was an attempt to remove the “anti-republic” tag attached to him.
But on Monday, after PM Oli questioned Balen’s commitment to the republic and removed him from the main Republic Day celebration committee, the issue has once again sparked debate.
It is worth noting that PM Oli and Mayor Balen have long been engaged in accusations and counter-accusations on social media. Balen is considered a harsh critic of Oli, while Oli does not miss any opportunity to take a dig at Balen.
The main Republic Day celebration committee includes the Deputy Prime Minister, ministers, state ministers, the chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the Chief Secretary of the Nepal Government, the Chief of Army Staff, the chief of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, high-ranking officials of the Nepal Government, the Inspector General of Nepal Police, the Inspector General of Armed Police Force, the Chief Investigation Director of the National Investigation Department, chiefs of municipalities in the Kathmandu Valley, and the Secretary of the Home Ministry as the member-secretary.
The meeting decided to celebrate the day on Jestha 15 (May 29) with a three-day program, including lighting lamps in all public institutions on Jestha 14, 15, and 16. Similarly, programs will also be organized in Nepali embassies, diplomatic missions, and consulates abroad. The main event on Jestha 15 will be held at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel.
PM Oli has called for celebrating Republic Day with grandeur at the public level and urged that it should not be limited to mere formalities.
