Kathmandu, December 16
A demonstration launched by sugarcane farmers from southern districts of Nepal this Sunday has continued on its fourth day on Wednesday with more people joining.
Whereas the farmers from Sarlahi had led the protest initially, those from other districts such as Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, and Nawalparasi have also joined the protest recently.
Hari Shyam Raya Yadav, a leader of the protest, says the number of demonstrators has now reached around 300. They have been gathering at Maitighar Mandala from 11 am to 3 pm every day since Sunday.
Raya says the government has called them for the talks, but they are rejecting the offer demanding outstanding payments in cash.
Demanding that the government and sugar mills implement a deal signed with them in the first week of January this year, the farmers have been staging the protest.
The farmers had launched a demonstration at the same place in December last year for several days demanding the sugar mills pay them outstanding bills on time. The agitation had ended in a five-point agreement, in which the government had agreed to coordinate efforts to make industrialists clear all dues within January 21.
However, one year later, the farmers came back to the capital claiming the government and the industrialists cheated them.
