KATHMANDU, March 3: After embarking on a 23-day-long journey, victims of loan sharks, who arrived in Kathmandu on February 22, are continuing their protests for the second straight week.

Arriving from various parts of Nepal to seek justice from the federal government in Kathmandu, the victims have yet to see their demands addressed. Loan shark victims are adamant that they will not leave the capital until they get justice. They are protesting daily in Kathmandu enduring the pain from the wounds caused by walking barefoot.

The government is negotiating by forming a negotiation team to address their demands. But the talks have already failed twice. Most of the loan shark victims who came to Kathmandu have demanded the government to cancel the arbitrary mortgage forced by the moneylenders. Many claim that despite making annual payments, their debts continue to swell, with interest doubling or even tripling in over 4 to 6 years. They have accused the moneylenders of robbing their homes and land. They said that they had come to Kathmandu for justice because the moneylenders had usurped even 1 kattha of land illegally.

The victims complain that even when they return double the amount of the loan, the moneylender is not ready to release the land but demands more money than what was borrowed. One of the loan shark victims of Dang, who participated in the loan shark victims' movement, said that the state is politicizing rather than addressing the demands of the victims. He claimed that even though he came to Kathmandu and knocked on the door of justice, he was not able to get justice. The victim said that different parties are playing games in the negotiations with the government. He said that because the problem cannot be solved through negotiation, he has lost faith in getting justice. He said that despite enduring hardships, they cling to the hope of seeking justice.

Belal Ansari, another loan shark victim from Sunsari district, lamented that it has been 32 days since he came to Kathmandu on foot from Eastern Mechi and the government is not in a position to listen to the demand even when they started facing health problems. He said that he will stay in Kathmandu until the demands of the victims are addressed. He complained that they are facing many problems during their stay in Kathmandu. He said that even though the loan shark victims were suffering so much, the government did not understand their problem. Ansari said that even during the protest, they would receive calls of money-lenders asking when they would return the money. Ansari said that he had come to Kathmandu to seek justice from the government after learning that the Home Minister will deliver them justice.

Shatrudhan Kushwaha Yadav, spokesperson of Kishan Majdur Sangharsha Samiti against loan sharking and fraud, said that the government is reluctant to address the demands of loan shark victims. He stated that if the government addresses the 6-point demand, the victims will return home immediately. He said that the victims do not have a big demand, but they only wish for the cancellation of fake mortgages, and the return of unlawfully acquired funds.

Tilak Bahadur of Siraha and Laxmi Shah of Kailali Tikapur share similar sentiments, expressing their determination to remain in Kathmandu until justice is served.

Despite ongoing negotiations between the committee formed by the government and the victims, concrete results are yet to be achieved.

 
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