Balen Shah Outlines RSP’s Commitment to Transforming Karnali

Kathmandu. National Independent Party (RSP) senior leader Balen Shah has stated that his party is committed to the overall development and preservation of civilization in Karnali.

Addressing the "We Have Arrived: Declaration of Change" assembly, he highlighted the uniqueness of Karnali, noting it as the home of the country's longest river, largest district, largest rural municipality, and deepest lake. He claimed that no previous government or political party has truly understood the depth of the region, asserting that RSP is the party that seeks to understand it.

He said, "The place with the country's longest river, the largest district, the largest rural municipality, and the deepest lake—a depth that no government, party, or the nation has been able to comprehend until today. We want to understand that depth. RSP is the party that understands that depth."

He remarked that while the valuable Yarsagumba from Dolpa, often compared to gold, reaches global markets, it is ironic that Karnali's apples and Marshi rice cannot easily reach districts like Chitwan and Jhapa. He clarified that RSP aims to be the party that ensures Karnali’s products reach at least every corner of the country.

"Today, Yarsagumba from Dolpa, considered like gold, can reach all over the world, but Karnali’s apples and Marshi rice cannot reach Chitwan and Jhapa. RSP wants to be the party that takes these local products across the entire nation," he said.

He mentioned the Sinja Valley as the birthplace of the Nepali and Khas languages, emphasizing the need to protect the region's civilization, including its language, script, art, music, and festivals. He stated that RSP intends to move forward as a party that preserves the civilization of Karnali.

He said, "Sinja Valley is a place of civilization, the birthplace of the Nepali language and the Khas language. It has its own language, its own script, its own painting, its own music, and its own festivals. When all these exist, it is considered a civilization. The National Independent Party wants to be the party that saves that civilization. We want to preserve Karnali's civilization, and RSP is the party to do so."

Additionally, he noted that problems such as hunger, and high infant and maternal mortality rates still persist in Karnali. He commented that while many leaders have come to politically exploit Karnali’s poverty and pain, there has been a lack of leadership that truly understands it. Expressing his commitment to carrying forward the dreams of the people of Karnali, he stated that this campaign has begun through the "Commitment Paper" (Banchapatra) released by RSP.

He said, "In the National Independent Party's view, hunger still exists in the country; child mortality and maternal mortality rates are rising, and these problems persist in Karnali. Many leaders came to sell Karnali’s pain, poverty, and suffering, but not many came to understand it. RSP leaders want to be the ones who understand. Just as the saying goes, 'Karnali's dreams are our dreams,' we hope to carry your dreams forward, and we have started carrying those dreams today through our Commitment Paper."