Balen begged UML for Rs. 1 lakh: Mahesh Basnet
This decision has sparked sharp criticism from UML leader Mahesh Basnet, who accused Mayor Balen Shah of "begging" under the guise of penalties.
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City has imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on the CPN-UML for public space cleanup costs following a party event.
This decision has sparked sharp criticism from UML leader Mahesh Basnet, who accused Mayor Balen Shah of “begging” under the guise of penalties.
Taking to Facebook on Friday, Basnet sarcastically remarked that the UML’s event was so exceptional that it required special cleanup arrangements, compelling Mayor Balen to demand a fine.
He quipped, “Unlike hundreds of other rallies in Kathmandu, the UML’s program was so grand that Balen had to ‘beg’ for Rs. 1 lakh as a penalty.”
Basnet’s View: Two Perspectives
Positive Angle:
Basnet acknowledged the grandeur of the UML event, suggesting it was extraordinary compared to other gatherings in Kathmandu, justifying additional cleanup measures.
Negative Angle:
On the flip side, he accused Mayor Balen of harboring a deep fear of the UML, labeling his actions as a display of a “weak mentality.”
Basnet likened the situation to a fable where a prince dies merely by seeing a tiger’s picture in a book, implying that Balen is overwhelmed by the UML’s influence.
Basnet further criticized Balen for exhibiting political bias against the UML, accusing him of acting out of prejudice rather than fairness.
Meanwhile, the UML has dismissed the fine as politically motivated retaliation. Mayor Balen has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
