Dr Govinda KC to flout govt ban at Maitighar today
KATHMANDU, June 23: While civil campaigner Dr Govinda KC, professor at the Institute of Medicine, stages protests or raises his voice with ample publicity, Ganga Maya Adhikari of Gorkha, who has been fighting for justice for years now, has been neglected even by civil society.
Adhikari’s son was killed by the Maoists during their decade-long armed insurgency and her husband died in course of a protracted hunger strike at Bir Hospital. His body is yet to be cremated. It has been kept at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital as the family has refused to receive it for performing the final rites. Ganga Maya has now been hospitalized at Bir as she has resumed her hunger strike, demanding punishment for the killers of her son.
Ganga Maya awaits justice after district court verdict
According to Bir Hospital authorities, Adhikari is being treated in cabin with special attention. Anything can happen now, and the hospital has asked the Ministry of Health to take necessary steps, said the hospital officials.
Human rights activist Charan Prasai said Ganga Maya’s condition is critical. “She has refused treatment at the ICU, saying she only wants implementation of the court verdict and nothing more,” said Prasai. “She wishes for death if her demand to arrest the culprits is not addressed.”
Prasai admitted that human rights activists have not shown the same level of interest as in Dr KC’s crusade.
Dr KC’s concerns are highlighted by national media but the voice of Ganga Maya is gradually fading away. Dr KC is all set to stage a disobedience protest at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu at 11.45 am Saturday to protest the government’s decision to ban public protests at various places including Maitighar and to bring in the Medical Education Act without making any changes. He also wants action taken against those named by a panel headed by Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki.
Ganga Maya of Fujel, Gorkha district started her hunger strike at Bir Hospital on May 29, demanding punishment for the killers of her son Krishna Prasad. She has demanded that the government arrest Chhabilal Paudel, his son Parshuram Paudel and nephew Bhimsen Paudel, Ram Prasad Adhikari and Januka Paudel, for murdering her son on June 6, 2004 during the time of the Maoist armed insurgency.
This is the third hunger strike being staged by Ganga Maya to pressure the government to address her demand. She and her husband Nanda Prasad had first launched a fast-unto-death in January 2013.
The couple, who began a second fast-unto-death the following month, ended it on the 47th day after reaching an agreement with the government. The agreement included acting on the first information report against some suspects including Parshuram Paudel. But the arrested suspects were released later.
Ganga Maya’s husband died on September 22, 2014 on the 329th day of his fast-unto-death at Bir hospital. She continued with the strike alone for a total of 360 days until the government inked a five-point agreement with her in October 2015.
