Author: space4knews

A news summary with an editorial review. KP Sharma Oli, Chairman of the CPN-UML, has warned leaders involved in the party’s reorganization campaign to leave the party, labeling them as ‘vagabonds.’ These remarks by Chairman Oli have been vehemently opposed by the party’s young leaders, who have launched the ‘I am Vagabond’ campaign on social media. Leader Navina Lama has stated that their demands for party leadership and generational transition have followed proper political practices and debate.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s description of leaders engaged in the reorganization drive as ‘vagabonds’ has drawn strong objections from those leaders. The ‘I am Vagabond’ campaign has gained traction on social networks. They argue that those raising issues about reorganization should not be called vagabonds. Oli’s warning urging them to leave the party has sparked significant controversy. Leader Navina Lama was briefly interviewed on this matter.

After arriving in Ilam, Chairman Oli issued an unbeatable challenge. Was there a response to that? Instead of questioning individuals personally, our issues are legitimate. We have consulted party leaders and initiated a fresh style of debate on how to strengthen the party and preserve its history. However, we find it unacceptable that he dismissed our debate as ‘vagabond.’ It is inappropriate to call those debating party matters within the party office ‘vagabonds.’

Yesterday, if he liked someone, they were called children, but if not, gathering to label them vagabonds has no prosperous tradition. This method is not right. We respect him as ‘KP Ba,’ acknowledging his chairmanship. But dissatisfaction should not be expressed through the term ‘vagabond.’ It is time for new agendas and leadership in the UML. This issue deserves thoughtful discussion. We are not vagabonds; we are neither gangsters, contractors, nor involved in weekly extortion.

Were you hurt by the chairman’s words? We have only expressed the need to respectfully transfer leadership. We are not engaged in any anarchic activities. We have been active in the party committee for a long time. Certainly, he has contributed much to the party. He is senior to us, and we acknowledge that contribution. But we have also considerably contributed to the party. Genuine love sustains the party as well. He has urged us to leave the party, but we will not. If he is challenging us to quit, is he afraid? We have no reason for fear. We are here for political debate, discussion, and exchange of ideas.

We have never asked him to leave the party. It is leadership they want to pressure in stepping down because his leadership is currently failing. Who would leave the party? We won’t. He must pass on the leadership. He must resign as chairman. Leadership should be entrusted to the younger generation, and the party must be reorganized in a new way. Under his leadership, the party was defeated by 50,000 votes. Even the candidates he endorsed lost. There are many positive and negative aspects here. But we have firmly stated that the dissatisfaction of the people stems from him.

We do not desire positions. This debate is not for becoming a member of parliament or minister. But since the party is in crisis, we have initiated debate. Is KP Oli no longer capable? His leadership has failed. He held the positions of prime minister and party chairman for a long time. How long can the same leadership remain? There is now a prime minister under 35 in the country; new leadership must emerge. Strident remarks towards those who are dissatisfied are typical of KP Oli’s style. Why does it hurt? Even when leaders like Madhav Nepal left the party, there were never expressions like this.

We have not gathered signatures to make him leave the party. We have called for respectful boycott within the party’s structure. But calling us ‘vagabonds’ and telling us to quit the party is disrespectful. We cannot say the party is his alone or that the process is his to define. He says there is a process and method, so what is it? We former Akhil members are in discussion. We have had calm debates within the party. We all carry a political culture. What happens now? He holds the country’s chief executive post and is party chairman. Thousands of activists built the organization and brought him this far. That must be respected. The party has rules, principles, policies, and procedures, and committees. Now he must accept the questions and dissatisfaction raised within this structure and respectfully consider the views of the majority of activists and leaders. He is entitled to his opinions, and we have ours. Leadership must be transferred with respect through proper methods and procedures.

Poet Shravan Mukarung has powerfully presented the changing circumstances of the country and the plight of the poor, symbolized by the hearth, before members of Parliament and provincial legislators through his poetry. He stated, “Listen, esteemed legislators! No matter what claims you make, no matter how much you wear a coat with a sharpened iron edge, in truth, you are nothing but mere puppets.”

He added, “Someone is writing poetry in hunger to try to make you somewhat decent citizens of a civilized country. Pay attention—the poet is Shravan Mukarung. He is composing verses to make you agile and cultured.” In his poem, he also references health concerns such as blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol, saying, “His bloodstream flows with nicotine, ethanol, caffeine, along with a melancholy ink.”

The poet remarked that it was not just a gas cylinder but the monsoon session that was wasted in petty conflicts. Now the winter session is approaching. He urged, “Please place Shravan Mukarung’s hearth on the national agenda in the upcoming winter session.” He added, “Some trickster has arranged a city with just two rooms into a country.”

Taking the hearth issue seriously, he said, “Shravan Mukarung’s hearth, that is, Premlalwa’s hearth, Draupadi’s hearth, after being tampered with by thugs and troublemakers, has made the patriarchs extremely angry.” Further emphasizing its importance, he stated, “Shravan Mukarung’s hearth should be recognized as a national pride project.”

Dhankuta, 31st Saun – A passenger bus met with an accident in Dhankuta. The incident occurred on the Koshi Highway at Char Khole Golai, Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6, resulting in three injuries. According to the District Police Office of Dhankuta, the bus bearing registration number Ko 1 Kha 5105, traveling from Dharan to Tehrathum, lost control and crashed on Sunday morning.

Those injured in the accident include 11-year-old Numa Limbu from Chathar Rural Municipality-1, 69-year-old Kaviraj Thapa from Chathar Rural Municipality-4, and 56-year-old Shukmaya Limbu from the same area. All three injured have been transferred to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, for further treatment, police reported.

Golbazar Municipality-7 in Siraha has provided a city rickshaw worth approximately NPR 500,000 to the Basic Technical School to facilitate easier commuting for students. Ward Chairperson Harisharan Thakur stated that the rickshaw was offered to assist students from economically disadvantaged and Dalit communities in traveling to and from school.

Principal Jwala Moktan emphasized that operating the city rickshaw will help 105 students reach their classes on time and enhance the effectiveness of their studies.

The handover of the city rickshaw to Basic Technical School in Kadimatol was conducted in a program organized by the ward office. During the event, Ward Chairperson Harisharan Thakur handed over the keys to Principal Jwala Moktan. Chairperson Thakur explained that most students attending the school come from very poor and Dalit backgrounds, facing challenges in commuting to the school.

Considering these difficulties, the ward office purchased the city rickshaw for about NPR 500,000 from its budget and transferred it to the school. “Even though large-scale assistance isn’t available, small contributions like this are expected to ease students’ daily commutes,” said Chairperson Thakur. Principal Moktan also discussed how students walking to school often arrive late, which can negatively affect their studies.

With the availability of the city rickshaw from the ward office, students are expected to reach school on time and improve their academic performance. According to Moktan, the school currently enrolls 105 students. Since students come from neighboring villages and surrounding areas, arrangements will be made to operate the city rickshaw for a few hours each day to transport them to school. The school highlighted that the ward office’s support directly benefits students from economically marginalized families by easing their daily travel to school.

Despite rapid urbanization in Nepal, unplanned physical development has led to the loss of agricultural land and the growth of vulnerable settlements. For long-term prosperity, it is essential to prioritize scientific land utilization and effectively implement risk-sensitive urban planning before construction begins. I have heard the phrase ‘Prosperous Nepal’ repeatedly in speeches, policy documents, meetings, and every development slogan. However, when I walk through the city streets, observe newly expanding settlements, flood-affected roads during the rainy season, and increasingly narrow public spaces alongside house walls, one question arises — is building a prosperous country merely a dream or our shared commitment?

We build houses first, then look for roads later. After settling neighborhoods, we discuss where to build drainage. We encroach upon rivers to construct homes, and when floods come, we say, ‘That area was just a riverbed!’ Each monsoon, pictures of submerged roads circulate on social media, sparking discussion for a few days. Yet, soon after, new houses appear in those same places, and settlements expand further. Nepal is urbanizing rapidly. New cities are emerging, old cities are expanding, and construction activities are increasing. But we must admit, the pace of physical infrastructure development far exceeds the planning process.

The consequences are the loss of rivers and open public spaces, conversion of agricultural lands into concrete landscapes, and basic infrastructure struggling to meet the growing demands of the population. Sometimes it feels as though we are creating problems instead of cities. Our development approach is: first build walls, then consider where to put the door; first expand the city, and only years later ask, ‘Where shall we put the roads?’ A city does not form overnight. It is the result of decades of both right and wrong decisions.