KATHMANDU, Sept 26: Activists including Ishan Shakya, have been staging a protest in front of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) for the past seven days, demanding support for sidewalk businesses and street vendors. The agitating activists and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City have started negotiations for an amicable solution to the problems of street vendors.
However, neither KMC Mayor Balen Shah nor activist Ishan Shakya was present at the meeting held on Tuesday. According to sources, the negotiations are being led by Govinda Narayan, co-founder of Bibeksheel Abhiyan. Similarly, Advocate Sanjay Adhikari, Prajwalatta Karki, street vendors’ representative Sujan Giri, and urban infrastructure expert Raj Maharjan are also in the talks team representing the agitating side.
PHOTOS: Street vendors gherao KMC office
Meanwhile, KMC Spokesperson Nabin Manandhar, Ward Chairman Chinkaji Maharjan, head of the Law Department Basanta Acharya, Kumar Benjankar, and Dhiraj Joshi are representing the KMC.
Shakya’s protest is aimed at “reminding Mayor Shah and Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol of their election promises.”