Bulldozer on Squatter Settlements: Lamichhane Who Promised ‘I Will Block It With My Chest’ Before Elections Now Silent; Mic-ing Begins After Balen’s Directive

Kathmandu — Before the elections, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane had declared that no bulldozer would enter squatter settlements, saying “They will have to trample my chest first.” However, within a month of his party joining the government, Prime Minister and senior party leader Balendra Shah instructed security agencies to vacate squatter settlements, and Lamichhane has remained silent.

Following a discussion with heads of security agencies on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Shah directed the evacuation of squatter settlements across the country, starting from Kathmandu. The same evening, security agencies announced via loudspeaker in the Thapathali squatter settlement that it must be vacated, with bulldozers to be deployed on Sunday.

Former Home Minister Sudhan Gurung had resigned on Wednesday after being embroiled in a controversy. Shah then took charge of the Home Ministry and held discussions with security agencies regarding the evacuation of squatter settlements.

Before the elections, Lamichhane had said: “It is being said in poor settlements that this is being done to prevent Rabi Lamichhane from winning. Rumors are being spread that if he wins, a bulldozer will come, it will demolish. Before a bulldozer enters your settlement, before your settlement is demolished, before your settlement is destroyed, they will have to trample my chest. No one will be able to pass by trampling my chest.”

However, after the government began loudspeaker announcements to vacate the settlements, that video has gone viral. Lamichhane has not issued any response as of the time of this report. Even senior party leaders have not spoken openly about whether Prime Minister Shah’s decision was made in consultation with the party or unilaterally.

Meanwhile, civil society and various organizations have strongly opposed the government’s move. The Broad Civil Movement has stated that forcibly evicting citizens without ensuring verification, rehabilitation, secure housing, and alternative livelihoods is unacceptable, and has warned of protest if force is used.

The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders has called the state’s planned action against squatters “state terrorism.” The Accountability Monitoring Committee has stated that forced eviction constitutes a serious violation of human rights.

A GenZ activist has taken to social media to question Lamichhane, asking whether he will come to block the bulldozer with his chest. “People are saying that you are no different from other parties that have used squatter settlements as vote banks,” she wrote.

Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel, when asked by journalists on Thursday about the proposal to vacate squatter settlements, said that no such decision had been made by the Council of Ministers. However, within hours, loudspeaker announcements were made in the Thapathali squatter settlement.

A few days ago, when journalists asked Lamichhane about bulldozers being deployed in other places, he had said he was unaware.