The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) appears to be unaware of the government’s preparations to clear squatter settlements.
RSP spokesperson and lawmaker Manish Jha said that there has been no discussion within the party regarding the government’s decision and suggested asking the government’s spokesperson about it.
“There has been no formal discussion within the party regarding the government’s decision to remove squatter settlements. Ask the government spokesperson about it,” Jha told Setopati.
When asked whether the ruling party should also be accountable for the government’s decision, Jha said that there had been informal discussions within the party regarding the matter.
“It is natural for discussions to take place after questions are raised about government decisions,” he said. “There have been informal discussions, but the government has not provided any formal information, and there has been no formal discussion or decision within the party.”
He added that he would only be able to speak after an official party decision is made and reiterated that questions should be directed to the government’s spokesperson.
Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel also said that there had been no discussion in the Cabinet regarding the directive to clear squatter settlements. While announcing the Cabinet’s decisions on Thursday, Minister Pokharel responded to journalists’ questions about preparations to use bulldozers in squatter settlements, saying, “No such decision has been made by the Cabinet.”
The government issued a six-point directive on Friday instructing residents to vacate houses and structures along the Bagmati riverbanks. It stated that demolition would begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and that encroached land would be fully cleared.
It also warned that anyone obstructing the process would face legal action.
Meanwhile, the RSP’s election manifesto and a separate commitment paper issued by Prime Minister Balen Shah in Jhapa-5 state that a powerful commission would be formed to distinguish between genuine and fake squatters.
According to Shah’s commitment, such a commission would be formed within 100 days of forming the government, and the squatter problem would be permanently resolved within 1,000 days.
Similarly, point 83 of the RSP’s election manifesto also states that a powerful high-level authority would be established to identify genuine squatters and provide them with permanent housing by developing model settlements.
The manifesto states:
“Learning from past failures, a powerful high-level national land rights authority will be formed to scientifically distinguish genuine landless individuals from the fake squatters illegally occupying government land through satellite mapping and digital biometric verification. For genuine landless people, integrated model settlements with secure, well-facilitated, and production-linked housing will be developed, ensuring permanent housing and land ownership certificates.”
Contrary to the commitments made by PM Shah and the party, the government’s sudden move to remove squatter settlements has created unrest among such communities across the country.
Some RSP lawmakers have begun saying that using bulldozers suddenly in these settlements would create hardship and that the government should act in accordance with the law and the party’s manifesto.
Shah had attempted to bulldoze squatter settlements along the Bagmati riverbanks during his tenure as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City as well. At that time, then-home minister and RSP President Rabi Lamichhane had stopped the move.
During the election campaign, Lamichhane had assured squatters that he would stand in front of bulldozers if they were used in squatter settlements.
RSP lawmaker Uttam Paudel said that the squatter issue has existed for a long time and should not be resolved abruptly through immediate evictions.
He said that it is the government’s responsibility to form a powerful commission as promised in the manifesto, identify genuine and fake squatters, and provide housing to the genuine ones.
“There is no situation requiring the government to suddenly decide to remove squatter settlements immediately as it is doing now. As per the party’s manifesto, it is the government’s responsibility to form a commission, identify genuine and fake squatters, and provide housing to the genuine ones,” he said. “Fake squatters be removed only after establishing the facts.”
He also said that political party workers and local representatives have been spreading fear in settlements by saying bulldozers will be used there.
He added that there is no need for such panic and that the government should act in a responsible manner, ensuring accountability from both the government and the party.
