By Our Reporter
Like in the past, the government has initiated a process to address the demands of agitation Dr. Govinda KC at the 11th hour. Only on the 23rd day of his strike, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli initiated a process to address his demands by sending Education Secretary Gopi Nath Mainali to Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj where Dr. KC has been staging his 19th round of hunger strike. However, secretary Mainali did nothing except for urging Dr. KC to end the strike, which the latter outright rejected.
Even the secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party on Tuesday dwelt on Dr. KC and urged him to end the strike.
However, Prime Minister Oli, who had been adamant in addressing Dr. KC’s demands as many of his demands are directly associated with some of the leaders of the party, was forced to take initiative as he faced growing pressure from doctors, youths, main opposition party leaders and a section of his own party.
Prime Minister Oli started showing his concerns to Dr. KC’s demand only a day after NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba in a statement urged him to hold talks with Dr. KC and the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), a professional organisation of medical and dental doctors across Nepal, warned the government of taking stern steps if the authorities delayed holding talks with Dr. Govinda KC.
Issuing a press statement on Sunday, the NMA had given a 72-hour ultimatum to the government for forming a talk team and holding talks with Dr. KC.
Moreover, Madhav Kumar Nepal of ruling Nepal Communist Party also asked PM Oli to hold talks with Dr. KC.
“If the government doesn’t form a talks team in the next 72 hours and take no step in saving the life of Dr. KC, the NMA will be forced to take any form of stern steps. The government will be responsible for the untoward situation that may arise due to it,” read the statement.
For the past 23 days, Dr. KC has denied any form of treatment other than oxygen support since October 4 as he had problems in breathing.
The NMA had given an ultimatum following deteriorating health condition of Dr. KC and lack of concern from the authorities.
Youths and independent intellectuals have always been with Dr. KC and they have been demonstrating in the street, but the government was using force against them, instead of trying to address Dr. KC’s demands.
Obviously, shortsightedness on the part of the Prime Minister and his arrogant attitude towards Dr. KC have invited the present crisis. It seems PM Oli and his coterie have not accessed the consequences if something unwanted happens on Dr. KC’s life. In such a situation, Oli could be dethroned from the streets. But if Oli agrees to meet Dr. KC’s demand, his plan to appoint Bishnu Paudel as Finance Minister will be shattered because Paudel has been associated with Baluwatar land scam, which s one of the demands of agitating Dr. KC.
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