Government responds: Army was not deployed to remove squatter settlements

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle clarified in Parliament that the Government of Nepal did not deploy the Nepali Army during operations involving the removal of informal settlements using bulldozers.

Responding on behalf of Prime Minister Balen Shah during discussions on the Appropriation Bill, 2083 in the House of Representatives, Wagle addressed questions raised regarding the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and related agencies, the Ministry of Defence, and the National Planning Commission.

During the discussion, lawmakers had questioned why the Nepali Army had allegedly been used during the relocation of squatter settlements. In response, Wagle stated that no army personnel had been deployed at any location during the relocation process.

He explained that while relocating people living in high-risk areas to safer locations, the Nepal Police had only coordinated with local governments, managed security arrangements, and facilitated the process.

On the same occasion, Wagle also stated that for protecting the country’s territorial integrity and borders, the presence of the Nepali Army and other security agencies may be maintained across different parts of the country as required under national security policy and government directives.