KATHMANDU, July 25: The talks held between the representatives of Dr Govinda KC and the government team could not strike a deal after both the sides did not budge from their stances.
Both the sides engaged in blame games. Dr KC’s team blamed that the government team could not give concrete answers to the amendment proposals raised by Dr KC over the Medical Education Bill. The talks between the two sides were held at the Ministry of Education.
According to a source privy to the meeting, the government team had asked for an hour for consultation with Subas Nembang, who had played a crucial role in breaking the ice between the two sides.
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When no hints came from Subas Nembang, the government team also could not give any concrete answers.
Abhishek Singh, a member of Dr KC’s team, lashed out at the government for its apathetic attitude toward Dr KC despite his critical health condition and accused it of not intending to enter into the clause-wise discussion.
Dr KC’s team has stated that they would not sit for talks with the government team again until it expresses commitment to amend the medical education bill as per the proposals floated by them.
Formal talks began between the government and representatives of Dr Govinda KC Tuesday evening after informal discussions initiated by the ruling party leaders laid ground for further talks.
The formal talks were held in the evening at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) at Singha Durbar upon the directive of the prime minister. They had agreed to resume the talks Wednesday.
Dr KC has insisted on bringing the Medical Education Act without making any change to the Medical Education Ordinance, which had provisioned 75 percent scholarships in government medical colleges, a university granting affiliation to only five colleges and a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new private medical colleges in the Kathmandu Valley.
Dr KC, who launched his first hunger strike in July 2012 for reforms in the medical education sector, began his 15th hunger strike from June 30 in Jumla. He put forth seven-point demand including bringing a Medical Education Act without any changes, immediate publicizing of report of the medical probe commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki and taking action against those found guilty by the commission, revoking ban on protests at Maitighar and formulation of law to discourage threats against doctors and health workers.
Later, Dr KC was forcefully airlifted by the government to Kathmandu from Jumla on July 19.
