KATHMANDU, August 26: While the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Balendra Shah, is speeding up the work to demolish illegally constructed structures in Kathmandu, CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet has expressed his displeasure with Shah’s work.

Writing a Facebook status on Thursday, Basnet said, “Why did Balen Shah run a dozer in Alphabeta Complex? There may be two reasons. Maybe the building was not built according to its original design or maybe the owner is close to us.” 

Basnet wrote that if it is because of the first reason, it is justified or even if it is illegitimate, the concerned victims will seek legal remedies. “However, if it is due to the second reason, we will be forced to take action against someone’s irascible nature.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Shah replied to Basnet’s status and wrote that it was the first reason. He commented on the post of leader Basnet saying that everyone should follow the rules and laws. He even asked if Basnet’s house was built according to its original design.

Leader Basnet replied to Mayor Shah through another Facebook status. He wrote, "I just got home after a program and I was happy to see Balen's comment. At present, it seems that you are eager to see everyone’s house design blueprint. If you want to see the map of my house, please come to Suryabinayak Municipality.”

The metropolis had demolished the structures of Alphabeta on Thursday as it was operating a shop illegally on the ground floor. Mayor Shah and representatives of Alphabeta had engaged in verbal altercations over the design and the use of the ground floor on Thursday morning. 

Shah had asked the owner of the building for a map and design of the building, but he replied that it was with the metropolis office. Mayor Balen was visibly angry with the remarks. Shah reached there for the second time with a dozer to demolish the structures along with the design of the building. 

Basnet also criticized Mayor Shah stating that there is a wave of construction, not destruction in his hometown. He wrote, “You might think that you are a hero by destroying structures. However in our part, there is a wave of construction, not destruction. A mayor does not ride the dozer, a driver does. If you want to drive a dozer, come and learn driving.”

Basnet also asked Shah not to be pampered just because he has a few hundred Facebook fans. “We need to search for those men who had 200/400 Facebook fans in the past. The culture of swearing and cursing is not our culture. You may be happy with its development and find encouragement at present, but later it will be difficult if your opponents adopt the same style," Basnet further wrote on Facebook.

 
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