KATHMANDU, May 6, 2026
Representing the voice of the new generation (Gen Z), activist Rakshya Bam has challenged Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s perspective on student politics and the recent ban on organizations. Responding to the Prime Minister's assertion that students should seek political knowledge from teachers rather than political leaders, Bam stated that politics is a practical process learned through continuous practice, collective struggle, and leadership.
In a social media post, Bam questioned the Prime Minister’s logic, asking, "Why shouldn't students learn from legendary leaders like BP Koirala, Madan Bhandari, Pushpalal Shrestha, or Pradeep Giri?" She reminded the Prime Minister of his own political roots, noting that he himself once served as a campus unit president of a political wing, where he learned to raise his voice against irregularities. "The idea that everyone should learn politics only from where I dictate—what kind of mindset is that?" she questioned.
Labeling the government's move to dissolve student organizations and trade unions via ordinance as 'arbitrary,' Bam noted that such decisions are difficult to defend. She urged Prime Minister Shah to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, trade unions, and civil society. Emphasizing that these groups also seek the nation's prosperity, she advised the Prime Minister to prioritize cooperation over exclusionary politics.