Balen Shah Rejects Debate with Oli

Former Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah has said he will not take part in a public debate with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

Shah, who is the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) candidate for prime minister in the March 5 elections, reacted strongly to Oli’s offer for a debate. He said he will not join, rejecting social media claims that label him as a terrorist or accuse him of “burning the country.”

Shah criticized Oli’s debate proposal, pointing to Oli’s responsibility for the deaths of 76 children on September 8 and the arson that followed on September 9. He said he cannot share a stage with people he holds responsible for these tragedies.

“Being on the same stage with the person responsible for 76 children’s deaths and his supporters would make me appear guilty too,” Shah added.