KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai has raised concerns over the ongoing protests against the construction of a cable car at Pathibhara in Taplejung.
Despite the government granting necessary approvals, opposition groups have politicized the issue, Bhattarai said during Sunday’s House of Representatives meeting.
He emphasized that the private sector (IME Group, led by Chandra Dhakal) was given legal authorization to build the cable car and urged everyone to acknowledge this fact.
“Debates and controversies over the Pathibhara cable car project are ongoing. Some unfortunate incidents have occurred in Taplejung in recent days. We must remember that private sector involvement in this project was approved under Nepal’s legal framework,” Bhattarai stated.
He defended the right to protest but questioned the manner in which it was being carried out.
“Everyone has the right to protest, but there are limits. Protests should be peaceful and civilized,” he said.
Bhattarai also warned against intertwining religion and culture with politics, arguing that it leads to unnecessary conflict.
“No one is against development. But when we mix religion and culture with politics, it creates disputes. We’ve seen this happen before, and it’s unfortunate to see such tensions arise in our country,” he added.
Tensions escalated in Taplejung on Saturday night after anti-cable car protesters organized a torch rally, leading to clashes in the marketplace. Bhattarai credited security forces for preventing further damage.
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