‘Prime Minister is Leading the Country Towards Disaster,’ Says Labour Culture Party Chair Hark Sampang

Labour Culture Party Chair Hark Sampang has sharply criticized the government led by Balen Shah, describing it as a failure and lacking transparency. He condemned the recent deployment of bulldozers in a squatters’ settlement as a terrorizing action. Sampang accused the government of bypassing parliament, labeling it a case of policy corruption, and called the monopolization of the budget a critical mistake. The Labour Culture Party is planning to unite with opposition parties to raise their voices against the government’s mismanagement both on the streets and within the parliament.

Hark Sampang has consistently questioned and warned the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSWPA) government led by Balen Shah. Positioning the Labour Culture Party at the forefront of opposition, he has been a vocal critic of the government’s approach. The bulldozer operation in the squatter settlement has further intensified his frustration, raising questions about the government’s actions for forcibly displacing residents without a proper plan. According to Sampang, the near one-and-a-half-month tenure of Balen Shah’s administration has culminated in failure.

In a discussion with journalist Lilu Dumre, Hark Sampang addressed several issues including the bulldozer operation in the squatter settlement, the government’s adoption of ordinances bypassing parliament, the role of opposition parties, and the solidarity between the Labour Culture Party and the Ujyaalo Nepal Party. An edited excerpt of the conversation follows: “You have claimed that the Balen Shah government has failed. Has the time come to evaluate the government’s successes and failures?” Sampang responded, “Evaluation is always ongoing. The signals we are observing clearly indicate government failure.”

When asked about the basis of his claim that the government has failed, he said, “The administration has not been able to run the state in a balanced manner. The leader could not steer properly. The vehicle was started but rather than controlling speed safely, it was driven towards disaster. Protests are erupting across various locations. People are crying out. Some are compelled to commit suicide. Many have been rendered homeless. This clearly shows that the state is not functioning well.”