Kathmandu, November 27
Representatives of Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a hunger strike for 14 days to press for reforms in Nepal’s public health sector, are in talks with the government regarding Dr KC’s demands. In the meantime, the government has also released protesters held during a protest in support of Dr KC, professor at Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Medicine in Maharajgunj.
Police had arrested Dr KC’s supporters on Saturday while they were about to picket the house of TU Vice-chancellor Tirtha Khaniya. After releasing the protesters, the government on Sunday started first round of talks with Dr KC’s talks team.
On behalf of Dr KC, Dr YB Singh is leading the talks underway in Singhaburbar. Other members of Dr KC’s team include Lilam Maharjan, Dr Sachit Sharma, Dr Ranjan Sapkota and Dr Jivan Chhetri.
The government team has two members — Minister for Education Dhani Ram Poudel and Health Secretary Dr Senendra Raj Upreti.
On Saturday, police had arrested 31 people, who were about to stage a demonstration outside TU Vice-chancellor Khaniya’s Kirtipur-based residence in a bid to press for his ouster. The police action had led to postponement of talks between the government and Dr KC’s representatives, scheduled to begin on Saturday.
Dr Sapkota said: The talks were slated for Saturday, but we took a stance that we will not sit for talks till the release of arrested doctors. He said: Government has released the doctors, so we are holding talks with the government.
He told Onlinekhabar: Dr KC’s demands are our agendas. Progress in talks depends on the government’s response.
