Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) publicly praised Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Sunil Lamsal as part of the 'nation-building team,' who is currently at the center of discussion and controversy due to a recent statement. His strict directive, driven by frustration over the contractor's delays during an inspection of the Nagdhunga-Muglin road project, is now drawing criticism from various angles.
During the inspection, Minister Lamsal stated, 'Where is the contractor for the electricity poles? If they don't do the work, break their legs,' leading some to interpret this as taking the law into one's own hands or as a violent expression. However, if one understands the depth of language and literature, taking the Minister's words only in their literal sense would be an injustice.
From a literary perspective, Minister Lamsal's statement is a clear 'Metaphor.' A metaphor provides deeper meaning by directly comparing something to another unrelated thing. Here, 'breaking legs' is certainly not an attack on the contractor's physical body, but rather a metaphorical meaning of 'breaking the legs' of—or uprooting—the deep-rooted delays, dodging attitude, and negligence that have persisted for years. Just as saying 'time is a thief' does not mean time literally steals a purse, the Minister's words conveyed a message to break the contractor's carelessness.
This can also be understood from the aspect of 'Personification.' The Minister personified the anomalies, obstructions, and lifeless administrative hassles seen in development construction in the form of the contractor. He poured out that anger as a symbol of the extreme hardship the public is facing and the tendency to block the door to development due to the contractor's failure to work. Just as the wind does not literally cry out when one says 'the wind howled,' the Minister's directive is also a personified form of yearning and restlessness toward the work.
Looking at the reality of the project, the Minister's metaphorical anger seems entirely natural. Although an agreement to move the poles was reached between the Department of Roads and the Nepal Electricity Authority three years ago, more than 107 poles in the western section and 80 poles in the eastern section are yet to be moved. Due to this extreme negligence of the contractor, the general public has to face the daily ordeal of dust and mud. This very pain of the public poured out as a metaphor in the Minister's words.
Chief District Officer of Dhading, Laxmi Pandey, has also urged not to take the Minister's statement literally and to understand it as an intention to expedite the work. Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Member of Parliament Gyanendra Shahi has also strongly defended him, stating that the Minister gave a stern message against the tendency of making excuses and weakening the state machinery.
While Minister Lamsal's statement continues to face controversy, Prime Minister Balen Shah posted a picture on social media laughing alongside Minister Lamsal and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, writing 'Desh Banaune Toli' (Nation Building Team) in Roman script. This also gives a clear message that the government believes in work and results, and does not hesitate to adopt tough metaphors and styles for development.
At a time when the public has been suffering for years waiting for development, it is necessary to focus on the results of the work rather than raising controversy over a metaphorical and symbolic language used by the Minister. Although the rule of law is important in a democracy, the need for such harsh literary messages to 'break the legs' of—or put an end to—the tendency of causing hardship to the public is beginning to be felt in Nepali politics.
