Thursday, February 19th, 2026

Balen Shah refuses to join public debate with Oli

Says he won’t share stage with ‘murderers of 76 children’



KATHMANDU: Former Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has announced that he will not participate in a public debate with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

Shah, nominated as the prime ministerial candidate for the March 5 elections by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), reacted strongly to Oli’s statement about being ready for a public debate. He stated that he will not join such a debate, objecting to accusations circulating on social media that portray him as a terrorist or someone who “burns the country.”

Balen Shah criticized Oli’s proposal for a public debate, citing the responsibility for the deaths of 76 children on September 8 and the subsequent arson incident on September 9. He emphasized that he will not share a stage with those he holds accountable for these tragedies.

“Standing on the same stage with the murderer of 76 children and his accomplices would imply my complicity as well,” Shah said.

Publish Date : 25 January 2026 10:02 AM

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