Harkaraj Rai (Sampang), who was elected as an independent candidate by going from village to village carrying a microphone and seeking votes three years ago, has formed the Shram Sanskriti Party. He is preparing to resign from the post of mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City and enter national politics. Sampang, who aims to become the Prime Minister, has already started a door-to-door campaign saying that he will contest from Sunsari-1.

A conversation between DP Upadhyay, Gaurav Pokharel and Alina Rai for Kantipur after reaching Dharan, who is running an election campaign: The election has already started in Dharan earlier than anywhere else, why are you asking the people for votes? I am not saying anything big to the people. I am saying that the country should be saved and built. For decades, the country has only listened to speeches, now I am spreading the idea that we should start working.

The people elected you for five years in the last local elections. But, aren't they asking why you had to leave the door to door and go to the House of Representatives?

There was a Gen-G movement in the country, which no one had expected. I also did not expect the election to be held in 2084 to come forward like this. After the Gen-G movement that took place unexpectedly, the country has crashed, as I understand it. I see the need for an honest person to take care of that crashed country. And, I have not seen such people. Even those who have been in politics for decades do not have that need. They do not have loyalty, passion, or vision.

I did not see anything like that in the new ones either. All the leaders participated in the Gen-G movement. Gen-G was calling Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah. He too could not go out of fear. He must have left after five-six months. In such a situation, no one dared to run this country. I understood that there was no leadership left in the country. That is why I came to the conclusion that I should move forward myself. When it comes to saving the country, I would not have been able to do so by running only Dharan Sub-metropolitan City. That is why it is my obligation to open a party and move forward.

When are you preparing to resign as the mayor of the sub-metropolitan city? From which constituency are you running?

I have already resigned before filing my nomination on the 6th. I have said that I will contest from this (Dharan) constituency. I could not even serve the people of Dharan fully, that is what happened. But the people of Dharan brought me here. What I am today is because of the votes of the people of Dharan.

In the past, I went to the center and fought as an independent mayor for their services and facilities. At that time, the center's perspective was different. They did not even give the budget as they said. There are many issues, but since I am the mayor of the city, I have no place to complain. However, now I am going to Singha Durbar myself and filing my candidacy from Sunsari-1 to save the country.

You are publicly saying that you will become the Prime Minister, how is that possible? How many places does the party led by you submit candidacy and how many places does it win? Why do people choose your party?

We have already announced that we will file candidacy in all constituencies on behalf of Shram Sanskriti. Even now, leaders are coming to Dharan to get tickets. Although tickets cost money, there is no money to be paid for tickets to become a candidate of Shram Sanskriti Party. Tickets are also being distributed in a big way. Why should we vote for us? The answer to the question is whether to elect people who gossip or people who work. As far as I am known, established or not, that is what the people say. As far as I am known, I am known for my work. 

They say you are also known because of your speech ? Many say that Mayor Saab speaks harshly. Why do you speak like that?

I speak more realistically than harshly. I am not afraid to speak the truth. I do not hesitate, nor do I feel ashamed. That makes people think my speech is a little harsh.

Some people also say that I wish I had not spoken so harshly?

I hear that. It does not make much difference. A party formed by working people and an organization of working people should get a chance to work in this country. And, the opportunity to do that work should not be given only by ourselves, singing our hearts' songs and making a single effort. The sovereign Nepali people should vote for us. After the people win, we will work.

The Prime Minister should be the chairman and president of a party. In order to become the Prime Minister himself, one should actually open a party and run in an election campaign. He should have a vision. But, parties are opening up like new shops here. They are saying that they will support us, form an alliance, and reach an agreement and compromise. They have come openly saying, ‘I can’t do it.’ The Shram Sanskriti Party has come saying, ‘We will do it ourselves.’

Hearing this, some people are saying, ‘I am arrogant.’ But why did I open the Shram Sanskriti Party? It is not to make others the Prime Minister. It is not to say that we will form an alliance with others, or that we will sit together for a week and then separate if we disagree. That is why I have been saying, ‘I must become the Prime Minister.’ That is also the reason why the people are saying that I must be made the Prime Minister. If I become the Prime Minister, there will be only work in this country.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanskriti Party has also said that Balendra Shah, who is going to file his candidacy from Jhapa-5, will be the Prime Minister’s candidate. However, you have said that you will defeat UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Shah right there. What is the basis for this?

Once you enter the competition, you must defeat your competitor. There should be a 'nature' that says you must win. I am clear about that. We field a candidate and that candidate wins. We defeat KP Oli and Balen. I go there and give a speech once and it is over.

Do you have such an organizational structure in Jhapa?

I was alone in my organizational structure, when I filed my candidacy in Dharan. UML used to say that there were 12,000 cadres, Congress eight thousand, and Maoists four or five thousand cadres. I was alone. Organization and 'politics' are different. Politics are different things. I am a person who has won in politics. I had won then, and I have won today.

Today, they cannot expand their organization in every village. People have to be brought by car for a gathering. Therefore, only one person can win 'politics'. I myself am an example of that. At that time, I used to leave in the morning, not knowing where to go. Wherever I went, I felt happy, I would walk around shouting. Now, UML workers vote for 'Mato'. Because they don't love the country, do they?

Who is your candidate who will defeat both of them?

It's not about who the candidate is, who are they again? One is KP Oli, the other is Balen? What has KP Oli done? Do you know? He must have done investigative journalism. He has done nothing. He has stopped providing drinking water to villages that need drinking water, although I am not opposing the development there, but a person like the Prime Minister of an entire country should prioritize. Where are his workers, where is his base area, not just develop there. Now everyone seems to be doing the same. Priority should be given everywhere. For example, they did not allocate budget for drinking water for the people of Dharan. Even when Prachanda was the Prime Minister, he did not do it.

Hark's style raised the election temperature in Dharan and the east

You once reached Singha Durbar with a jug. Why?

Even when KP Oli was the Prime Minister, he did not help the people of Dharan. It was not a priority for the coalition government. Their priority was already only to build a view tower on a high hill. That's why they haven't done anything. That's why from Balendra to them - they are nothing (they are nothing).

He also added the context of Balendra Shah. Why is he going to come to Jhapa-5 to file his candidacy?

Balendraji must have thought that he is 'popular', that he will win the election after I go. His idea must be that 'KP Oli should be defeated'. But he has a risk. If he stands up in Kathmandu, where he stood up first, he will lose. Because, he has done nothing. Apart from driving away the corn burners, causing trouble to the hawkers, and causing trouble to the squatters, has he done anything? No. Whereas, I have heard that his budget is 26/27 billion. If I were to get that much money, I would (do a lot of work). I am working without money.

You can see the Labor Culture Park. What kind of good parks are being built without a budget. Do we need such a leader or not? Who is carrying a budget of 26 billion but can't do anything. He didn't even pick up the garbage. Once when I went to Kathmandu, I wrote, 'It's garbage, I'll give it to you by giving me a headache, diarrhea, and labor donation or what'. Then he got a little 'ego hurt'. And he picked up the garbage. Otherwise, he would have been destroyed by that garbage.

But, he writes 'I love you' to you on social media, right?

He calls it a 'defeated mentality'.

There is a process of forming alliances and separations between new parties. Even if you say nothing to him now, won't you form a separate alliance again? A team of Gen-G has made that proposal to you, right?

We don't form alliances. What happens if we make a proposal? But the labor culture doesn't match anyone. But if someone comes to our party and asks for a ticket, we give it to him.

Is your distance from Balendra Shah and the National Independent Party personal or ideological? Why do you seem aggressive towards him?

I am not aggressive. Where am I that aggressive?

Do you keep writing on social media that you will disappear, do you keep protesting?

Did I just write on social media in that sense? I have been saying that we do not agree with them for a long time. Because, our objectives do not match with them. When the destination does not match, the path diverges. Parties with different destinations cannot form alliances only for power. We do not go for agreements such as forming a power alliance, adjusting numbers, and taking turns sitting on chairs.

Are you trying to say that Balendra Shah and Ravi Lamichhane's collaboration is only for power?

Is that all, what Kulmanji is saying now? People must have trusted him to some extent. Now Kulmanji is saying that there are extremely selfish people there. They will do anything for power. They have said that they did this to me, that they merged my party.

So, is there a possibility of your alliance with Kulman Ghising's 'Ujyalo Nepal Party'? Balendra and Ravi Lamichhane also contacted you?

They (Balendra and Ravi) contacted you. I am a bit busy and don't pick up the phone that much. They contacted our team members. Now the Prime Minister's candidate has been announced. Others are also announcing. The Prime Minister has become very cheap, it is surprising. The Minister has become similarly cheap. That is why now the Nepali people vote for soil. Whatever you understand, there is that wave now. You should also conduct a 'field survey' like this. If you ask 10 people now, I think 6 to 7 people would say that the election symbol is soil.

Is that situation only in Dharan or across the country?

It is across the country. You said RSVP-RSVP. But I ask, where will they win? Where do you see them?

They say that they will bring a majority, become the Prime Minister and run the government, right?

That is anyone's guess. But, the reality is different. There is no basis for giving them a majority. First, the people voted for them to be in the opposition. But, they formed an alliance. They entered the government with the same people they contested the election against. And their only objective is to reach the government's chair. Is it okay to just oppose them because they have ideological differences? It is not okay, right? If they are corrupt, that is what they should say. It is not okay to say 'you are corrupt' and 'I support you'. That is why they have already made a mistake. 

They did nothing. Raviji was the Home Minister, what did he do? He did nothing. The people are wondering why we should vote for people who can't do anything.

Now there is talk that Balenji will come through him, this is also a lie. Balenji will not even win the election. He is not a political 'character'. Has he ever, ever, gone to any public meeting and expressed his views? What are his political views? Have you met any of your voters yet? There was a news story once that Bhadrakumari Ghale, such an old mother, could not be met even after sitting in front of his office crying for five/six hours. That is why he is not a ‘leader’.

So what is he?

I don’t know, a gamer I might be. A gamer maybe.

If that was the case, why would anyone make a ‘gamer’ the country’s Prime Ministerial candidate?

That would be domestic/foreign ‘interest’ now. That could be. Because the kind of government that is running now, whatever is happening, has Balenji’s hand in it. Kulmanji told me.

You have made domestic/foreign manipulation an agenda in the election campaign as well, do you really think that such manipulation took place in the Gen-G movement? Or did you just suspect it?

Why are there no foreign games? Yes, of course. There are many reasons why friends are going south before the elections, why someone is going to the coast, etc. The reason why the information about who will be the prime minister after the recent Gen-G movement came out in the international media can also be examined. What the foreign media said 17-18 days ago also indicates foreign manipulation. Does a thief walk around writing ‘I am a thief’? He defends himself by saying ‘You are a thief’ even if he says no. That is why we are aware of all these issues, and that is what ‘indicates’ them. And, Balenji is not a ‘leader’, ‘leader’ is with the ‘public’. He is listening to the ‘public’, he is with the ‘public’. What are the services and facilities of the ‘public’? What are the joys and sorrows? He is asking. Right? And a person who never goes out is not a ‘leader’.

So, is it because of ideological reasons that you could not get along with them?

It is ideological. Another thing is moral. I am a patriotic person. I am clear. I am clear in what I say. That is what I am teaching everyone in the labor culture now. I am now teaching 30 million Nepalis to speak the truth, they should speak the truth.

Let's go to your constituency. Who do you see as your competitor?

I don't see anyone as my competitor. I will win by getting 80 percent of the votes. I am so close to the suffering of the citizens that such an outcome is certain. I won the election because I provide drinking water. How many times have I gone to ask for a budget? Once I went carrying a jug, they did not give it. Later, water was made to come by donating labor. At that time, my hands were full of sweat. At that time, we called on the world to 'help'.

I don't think the people here will forget the merit I did by providing water. Otherwise, there would be a line of jugs right now. Earlier, there were 29 tanker numbers on the table of the secretariat in front of the mayor's office. The tanker business was useless. Now it has closed. They were supposed to take water and put it in a tank here and feed it, but they were selling it by bypassing it from the forest. The tanker was doing business. I have worked hard for the three days since I won. I have crossed rivers and streams. I have suffered so much for the people. I am a person who has set a 'world record' by working. I am a person who stays in the forest day and night to put out fires when the water pipes coming to the people's taps burn. I claim that no mayor in the world has done such a thing.

When people's settlements were being washed away, I have done everything from going to the river to risking my life to enter the river and save the settlements. Once there was a 'breakout' of dengue, even my own executive friends did not cooperate with me, however, I went to every house and killed mosquito larvae. I used to be in the water from morning to evening. At that time, I did not get sick. When I saw that I was not melting, I felt like I was a plastic person, like a stone person. I worked so hard.

You have already announced that you will become the Prime Minister. You also said that we will become the first party. How many places do you think you will win? How many places will other parties win?

I don't talk about other people's houses. No matter how much others bring, our majority will come. The majority of others will not come, it should not come. The country collapsed because of the old. The country burned because of the new. Will you write a status saying that you will burn Singha Durbar, not Balenji? If not him, then the new-Ji will write a status saying that the world should go on a movement? I have heard the Kulmanji version when Sudhan Gurung of his team said, 'I did all that' when forming the government. This is the Balen government, even now. It's just that he has not come forward, at that time. He is being terribly afraid. 

Even if you are so afraid, you cannot have politics. Why do the old people ask for votes, money was seen in every room. It was seen that the trippers of trippers were carrying money. Some in the house of the leader's daughter, some in the house of the leader himself, right? There is a whole conspiracy by NGOs. Children were shot. Such oppression was carried out by the state. Now the then Home Minister is saying no to me, so who is it? Will Nepalis vote for someone who puts this kind of country into a furnace of fire in the election? Why will they win the old one? Why will they win KP Oli? Why will they win

Sher Bahadur Deuba? He became the Prime Minister five times, now I am not voting for him to become the Prime Minister for the sixth time. I am a person who has come out very strongly and vocally on the issue of nationality and independence. I have also challenged Kulman, Ravi and Balen, to organize a movement against MCC. I also think behind that. They cannot write 'No MCC' against MCC. Is a person who does not stand in favor of independence, a person who does not feel pain when this boundary is crossed, suitable to be a leader? Does that serve the Nepalis? You must have heard Mukul Dhakal's talk about Raviji. He did not even respond to such accusations.

But many say that the influence of Hark Sampang may be good in the east of the Koshi, those who raise the issue of identity are with you, but there are also those who say that it is not the whole country, right?

I do national politics, not regional politics. I do not do religious and caste politics either. I do politics 'Based on Humanity', on the basis of humanity. Perhaps no one knows what prioritization is as much as I do. In Chitwan, why were there relatively few people, the organizer called me there without informing me.

Did you see the Butwal program? Was Butwal east of the Koshi? There must have been a lot in Sifal in Kathmandu too, right? If there was no such thing, why would people come? So what they are saying is wrong. But that's all, now due to limited time and various limitations, I am not in a position to go west. But we will go west too. That's why I say 'Average' gets a good vote.

Some are saying that your views are not clear, so it is difficult to discuss with you. You are promoting 'Harkism'. What exactly are you trying to say?

No explanation of my name appears in 'Harkism'. 'Harkism' is actually a theory of our country. Harkism holds the belief that if life runs through a combination of nature, culture and technology, then the country will also run in the same way. Life is an abstract thing that does not run, only the country runs. I see that everything in our country is turning towards unity, while life is turning towards something else. Politics should be very closely linked to life.

What happened in our country is that we call it Marxism, but a person who has studied Marxism builds a ten-story house by accumulating wealth without any source. Does that Marxism say that one should build a house through corruption? I felt that chapter was hidden. Otherwise, why does the same leader, the analyst of Marxism, live in a house without resources, and accumulate wealth. That is why they are reading foreignism. Either they do not know that argument completely, or they have explained and analyzed it by hiding the chapter that says 'corruption and tyranny must be eliminated'. One of the two has happened.

Therefore, rather than politics that involves sticking to vague arguments, it is a matter of looking at what has grown in one's own field, whether there is irrigation or not, it is a matter of Harkism. Labor culture did not make its party's flag. Why did it not make it? Because, labor culture has realized that the Nepali people's love for the Nepali flag has decreased. That is why we have talked about indigenousism, which talks about nature, about culture. It talks about stones and soil, and about compulsory production. In our regime, we teach people to produce food at the school level, we should be able to produce the food we eat. We should open industries, we should produce. Labor and nature should be connected.