These two lawmakers haven't spoken against their party's involvement in forcefully shutting schools in Tarai for more than 45 days now in the name of protest."They are simply unconcerned about resuming schools as they have ignored our repeated appeals to lobby within their party for the cause," said current PABSON Chairperson Lakshya Bahadur KC.
There seems to be no end in sight to the protests which has hit over 3 million students in Tarai, yet Rana and Pokhrel have failed to speak up for the rights of children.
"Our several appeals to respect schools as zone of peace have gone futile. The school closure in Tarai this time has stretched for the longest period so far," said DK Dhungana, general secretary of the PABSON.
"Schools should be accorded special status in order to protect children's rights," Pokhrel said, adding that he was not authorized to speak more on this regard.
After the prolonged protest and failed attempt of the government to persuade the agitating Madhesi Front to withdraw their protest programs, situation has grown even worse for students across the country.
The fuel crisis resulting from the unofficial blockade at the Indo-Nepal border imposed by the Indian government has also started affecting the students in the Kathmandu Valley and other places across the country.
"Many students have been missing their classes because school vehicles do not reach school on time," said Dhungana.
The valley-based schools would be closed from Monday as they are no longer in the position to operate school buses, he added. Most of the buses have already been grounded.
The students who had already lost 26 days of this academic session after the Gorkha Earthquake face further uncertainty, he expressed.
Meanwhile, the government's call to recognize schools as zone of peace remains unheeded by the protesters. National Human Rights Commission's appeal to the protestors and the government to create an environment for schools to operate has also been ignored.
"The resumption of schools across the country will become possible only if the political situation improves," said Suprabhat Bhandari, Chairperson of the Guardian Association of Nepal.
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