The abrupt call for strike denied Rijal and his sister of the opportunity to celebrate dar khane din, or the first day of Teej festival during which close relatives gather to feast on delicacies. [break]
Rijal complained that his relatives were waiting for them at home to celebrate the festival. "We have been waiting for a bus counter since early morning, but there were no vehicles going to his village," he said. He said that the last vehicle for his village departs at 10 am in the morning.
Likewise, Sumitra Adhikari of Gorkha complained that her ailing mother and sisters have been waiting for her in her maternal home but she was stuck in the capital. "I may not be able to celebrate the festival with my mother next year as she is very old and her health is worsening," Adhikari said. She said that her mother is a patient of asthma and has liver disease.
Because of her school going children, she had decided to go to her maternal home on Saturday. "I had no idea about the strike. Had I known, I would have left for Gorkha yesterday," she said.
Anju Shrestha, 50, a nursing staff at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), complained that she had to walk two and a half hours to reach the hospital. "It takes over two hours to come here from Ranibari.
I have to walk more to reach the hospital," Shrestha said. She said that she had invited her daughter and son-in-law to her home for feast and has to reach home early. "I have to go home early to prepare the food," she added.
Ramji Shrestha, 75, of Bhujingal, Kupandole complained that a rickshaw puller made him pay Rs 400 to take him to his home from New Road. "I came here for Teej shopping. As there are no vehicles, rickshaw pullers are demanding exorbitant fares," he said. He condemns hasty decision of the organizer to call the strike that only gives troubles to commoners like him. He said that if there was no strike, he would not have to walk hours and it would have cost him just Rs 15 to reach home.
Anusha Shrestha, 25, has similar tale of woes of banda. Shrestha, who was waiting at tempo station in front of the main office of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), complained that she was unable to attend prayers at church due to the strike. "I have been waiting for a tempo for three hours," she said. She said that she cannot walk to Gyaneshwar Church at Kalopool, carrying her one and half year old daughter.
Neeta, Nisha and Monica of Kirtipur, who said they woke up early in the morning and spent hours to get ready to visit their relatives in Sinamangal who had invited them for a feast, looked quite frustrated with the banda organizer at Kalanki. "We rarely get to meet our relatives because of our busy lives and when we finally get a chance, this is what we have to face," said Neeta. "These people don´t even realize how important this day is for women and they claim to belong to a party that works for people."
The sudden strike proved to be more severe for Lalbir Lama- 40 of Ghunshi-9 Ramechhap, who has been working as a porter at Mahabaudha, Kathmandu.
He complained that the strike kept him out of work for the day. "Due to the strike no vehicle will come today," he complained. He unloads goods that come in trucks from Khasha of China. Lama is the only earning member in his eight-member family. He said that he came to the capital a month ago to earn money for Dashain.
Saturday´s strike called by the UCPN (Maoist) crippled normal life in the capital, making difficult for commuters to reach their destinations. A large number of married women were seen waiting at the bus park for the vehicle to go to their maternal homes. Some women even protested against the banda enforcers at Kalanki.
The Maoist had called the strike against the arrest of its cadre Ram Prasad Adhikary, who is accused of being involved in the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari. The police have arrested Ram Prasad Friday evening from Kathmandu. Demanding action against the perpetrators involved in their son´s murder, Adhikari´s parents Nanda Prasad and Gangamaya are on fast-unto-death for last 46 days. They are adamant on continuing their hunger strike until the government books all the accused.
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