KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed frustration over Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah’s continued absence from official government events.
Speaking at a meeting held on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, Oli pointedly remarked that there’s no need to keep inviting those who repeatedly fail to attend.
The meeting was organized to form the main committee for Republic Day celebrations scheduled for May 29. Mayor Balen, as in the past, did not attend. Referring to such absenteeism, Oli said, “Some people never show up. What’s the point of keeping their names on the list? This habit needs to stop. If someone isn’t going to participate, don’t include their name next time.”
Mayor Balen has consistently avoided federal government meetings and discussions since taking office. His cold relationship with Prime Minister Oli, in particular, has persisted for over a year. Despite this, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal confirmed that a formal written invitation had been sent to Mayor Balen ahead of Monday’s meeting.
Balen has also stopped attending the Kathmandu Mayors’ Forum. Tensions have been high since the return of Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain to office—an official Balen had previously accused of corruption. Though Balen publicly criticized Guragain, no concrete evidence or investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority or any other body has substantiated his claims.
During the meeting, Oli further commented, “Respect shouldn’t be one-sided. If someone doesn’t care enough to attend, there’s no reason to print their name every time. We shouldn’t have to go looking for people who never show up.”
He emphasized that if someone shows no interest, the federal government should stop showing concern too. “Ask them once. If they say they’re not interested, then let’s not put their name down anymore,” Oli said.
Following Oli’s comments, Chief Secretary Aryal also weighed in, calling the Mayor’s absence from a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister inappropriate. “Participation in meetings organized by the government is expected. Invites are sent for high-level committees, and not attending is discourteous,” he said.
Oli concluded by stating that while occasional absence might be understandable, repeatedly missing meetings is unacceptable. “Missing one or two meetings is fine. But skipping three or four in a row? That’s too much. There’s no point inviting someone who never comes. Next time, ask if they plan to attend. If not, don’t include their name.”
Despite the criticism, Oli acknowledged that unforeseen circumstances might prevent some from attending and thanked those who couldn’t come due to genuine reasons. He stressed the importance of celebrating Republic Day vibrantly, not just through official programs but with participation from the grassroots level. “Let’s not rely solely on government events. Republic Day must be celebrated with public engagement and outreach,” he said.
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