न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Aug 19: Leaders of the 'Nagarik Bachau Mahabhiyan' (Save Citizens Campaign) have rejected the government's request to relocate citizens staging a sit-in outside the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, to a safe location and provide them with food, shelter and medical care.
The protesters have been staging the sit-in protest on the roadside for the past six days, exposing themselves to difficult and potentially hazardous conditions.
The government had clearly put forth a proposal to first move the protesters to a safe location to protect their lives and then hold serious, point-by-point discussions on their demands.
However, members of the negotiation team representing the Campaign led by medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai have declined to relocate the protesters.
Leeladhar Subedi, Joint-Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and Coordinator of the government negotiation team, shared that the government has already engaged in talks with utmost seriousness over both the safety of the citizens and their demands.
It may be noted that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also written to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on August 14, drawing the attention of the government towards a host of issues including immediately moving the protesters to a safe location, make arrangements for their accommodation and security, and continue dialogue. 
The NHRC reiterated the appeal through a press statement issued here on Wednesday. 
Joint-Secretary Subedi mentioned that despite the government's readiness to find a solution through dialogue while ensuring the safety of the protesters and taking the Commission's recommendations into account, Prasai and the negotiation team acting under his direction have repeatedly ignored the appeal.
One of the protesters' leaders accused that Prasai was pursuing his political interests by putting ordinary citizens at the forefront of the protest and exposing their health and lives to risk.
He divulged, "Talks with the government have already begun. Now, when we say let us move the citizens from the cold roadside to a safe place and save them, our leader, Durga Prasai, does not agree."
He worried that the health of elderly protesters had deteriorated after spending six days on the street.
Disgruntled Prasai on last Tuesday had sent a nine-member team led by Bishnu Bohara for talks with the government. 
During the meeting, the government team urged them to first help protect the citizens staying on the roadside and then hold detailed discussions on their demands.
The team left the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers late Tuesday night, saying it would consult Prasai, but did not return for talks on Wednesday. 
Prasai instead released a video accusing the government of indifference. 
Meanwhile, another protester at Pulchowk expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, worryingly said, "The real victims are facing greater hardship because of Prasai's political interest and his stubbornness in keeping ordinary people on the streets has left them at lurch."