KATHMANDU, August 5: Joining a mass rally in support of the demands raised by Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death for the last 13 days, former chief justice Sushila Karki has urged one and all to stand up for his demands.
Karki, along with Dr KC's supporters and civil society members, took to the streets in the capital Saturday to pile pressure on the government to address the doctor's demands .
“This struggle is not for his personal benefit, he is fighting the evils in the medical sector.
We have very few people in Nepal like Dr KC who fights for the good of other; his demands are legal, just and legitimate,” Karki said addressing the rally.
Public Rally on Saturday in support of Dr Govinda KC
Marching with placards, banners and jingling bells to pressure lawmakers to endorse the Medical Education Bill, Dr KC's supporters gathered near the parliament building at New Baneshwor. The Medical Education Bill is currently stuck in parliament .
“I wish to urge everyone to stand up for his demands, he needs our support and we need to take part in this campaign. We all are in this for sweeping reforms in the medical sector,” Karki said. She urged the government to take Dr KC's fast-unto-death with the seriousness it deserves. “If this takes an untoward turn it will not auger well for us,” she said.
Civil society members, political party leaders, human rights activists, artists, doctors and other professionals also joined the march in support of Dr KC.
Human right activist Krishna Pahadi threatened to stage a satyagraha [or civil disobedience movement] across the land to compel the government to act. “He is determined to press on for the good of the medical sector. If his demands are ignored, there will be satyagraha across the land,” Pahadi said.
Leader of Bibeksheel Sajha Party Ranju Darshana questioned the motives of lawmakers in time and again ignoring the just demands of Dr KC . Advocate Surendra Bhandari urged the public not to be misled by the false picture fostered by the medical mafia.
Jeevan Chhetry of Solidarity for Dr KC Alliance said satyagraha has a history of bringing about major political change across the world.
