Protest bans in capital undemocratic: Laxman Lal Karna

KATHMANDU, July 6: Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leader Laxman Lal Karna has termed the government’s decision to impose ban on staging protest, sit-ins and demonstrations in various areas of capital as undemocratic.

The Supreme Court Friday, following senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi’s writ petition a day before, issued a stay order against the government’s decision to ban protests at various places in the capital.

The government has decided to ban protests, sit-ins and demonstration programs in front of Shivapuri school, Kanti Child Hospital, Police Hospital, residential areas of Prime Minister, vice-president, Speaker and Chief Justice, Gairidhara, in front of parliament building, Singha Durbar area, Bhadrakali, Tinkune, Padmodaya area and Maitighar Mandala.

“Some of the works the government has done is totally wrong. Banning on peaceful protests in Maitighar Mandala and other places is undemocratic,” Karna told Reporters Club Nepal.

“The government should not breach the laws given that it has majority in the House. The government’s work is against the democratic spirit,” he said.

Karna also suggested the government not to ignore the agreements made with Dr senior orthopaedic surgeon Govinda KC, who is staging fast-unto-death in Jumla against the changes made in the Medical Education Ordinance.

Despite fast-unto-death from KC and NC protest, the government on Friday registered the National Medical Education Bill in the parliament, making no major changes in the bill to replace the Medical Education Ordinance.

The government had withdrawn the replacement bill earlier this week after protests by the opposition Nepali Congress over both the process and content of the legislation. Following its withdrawal from Parliament, the ordinance lapsed on July 4 after the government failed to get the replacement bill within 60 days of the commencement of parliament.

The bill will allow the operation of Manmohan Medical College and the National Medical College in Kathmandu and B & C Medical College in Jhapa, among others, teaching hospitals Nepal Communist Party leaders and businessmen close to them, without meeting the criteria recommended by Kedar Bhakta Mathama taskforce.