RAUTAHAT, Aug 3: Minister for Home Affairs Sudan Gurung has signed a total of 34-point agreements with various groups over the past three days in an effort to ease communal tensions that spread from Sunsari to Siraha and Dhanusha's Janakpur. However, given the government's track record in implementing similar agreements, serious questions are being raised about whether these commitments will be translated into action.
On July 26, two local residents—Om Prakash Mehta and Jay Prakash Mehta—were killed in police firing following a clash between two groups over music played by a DJ in Kaptanganj, Sunsari.
Public outrage over the deaths triggered protests across several districts in Madhesh Province, posing a major challenge to law and order.
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As tensions escalated, Prime Minister Balendra Shah did not immediately address the concerns of the Madheshi community, a delay that critics say contributed to the worsening situation.
On July 30, Home Minister Gurung visited the bereaved Mehta family on behalf of the government and held talks at their residence. The discussions ended with a seven-point agreement under which the government pledged to conduct an impartial investigation, take legal action against those responsible, and provide relief to the victims' families.
However, the agreement failed to halt the protests. Instead, demonstrations spread to other districts, with critics blaming the government's delayed response and weak handling of the unrest.
During a protest in Golbazar, Siraha, on Thursday, 20-year-old Grade 11 student Ganesh Yadav was shot dead. Following the incident, Gurung visited Yadav's family in Motipur, Aurahi Rural Municipality-2, where another seven-point agreement was reached with his father, Ram Briksha Yadav. The government again pledged an impartial investigation, legal action against those responsible and support for the bereaved family.
Despite the second agreement, tensions persisted. On Saturday, Gurung traveled to Janakpur to hold talks with the United Hindu Front. The negotiations resulted in a 13-point agreement.
In total, the government reached 34 points of agreement in Sunsari, Siraha and Janakpur within three days.
While the series of negotiations helped defuse tensions in the short term, attention has now shifted to whether the agreements will actually be implemented. In the past, many agreements signed between the government and protesting groups were either delayed or left unfulfilled, prompting skepticism over whether this time will be any different.
Restoring lasting peace will require more than signing agreements. Each commitment must be implemented sincerely, investigations must be conducted impartially, those responsible must be held accountable, and victims must receive justice if public trust in the government is to be restored. Otherwise, the agreements reached over the past three days risk becoming yet another addition to the long list of promises that were never fulfilled.
