Kathmandu, July 6:
Nepal’s main opposition, the Nepali Congress, on Sunday accused Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government of prioritising social media popularity over the welfare of ordinary citizens during its first 100 days in office.
At a review programme held at the party’s central office in Lalitpur, Nepali Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa criticised the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)-led government for allegedly creating fear among landless squatters through eviction drives in Kathmandu Valley. More than 15,000 people from over 2,600 households were displaced earlier this year, prompting the government to announce Rs 15,000 in rehabilitation assistance for each affected family.
“This government is more concerned about likes on social media than the lives of the people,” Thapa said.
Independent experts at the event also questioned the government’s performance. Former National Planning Commission vice-chairman Govinda Raj Pokharel alleged the administration was relying on misinformation and social media campaigns while failing to restore investor confidence. He claimed small investors had suffered losses of Rs 4.5 billion over the past three months.
Foreign affairs expert Saurabh Raj Pant said only 16 per cent of the government’s promises had been fulfilled in its first 100 days, while governance expert Ramesh Adhikari accused the administration of promoting personality-driven politics over institutional development and the rule of law.
Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as ‘Balen’, became Nepal’s prime minister on March 27 after the RSP secured a landslide parliamentary victory.