Kathmandu, August 23

Lawmakers today demanded that the concerned authorities address the demands of the ongoing agitations in different parts of the country and not allow the social harmony to be disrupted.

Addressing a meeting of Parliament today, several lawmakers said that timely action should be taken to address the demands of the protests or else the nation could plunge into never ending conflict among communities and religions.

Lawmaker Ganeshman Pun accused the government on not taking any initiative to address the demands of agitators and maintain social harmony.

He said the government has suppressed the peaceful movement organised by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and arrested more than 300 people agitating peacefully. He said the government should stop arrests and release those arrested soon. He criticised the government for adopting the strategy of suppression, which he warned would be detrimental.

Pun also demanded that Hari Bahadur Kunwar who died today during treatment at Teaching Hospital be declared a martyr.

Lawmaker Shivaji Yadav said Sunil Yadav was thrown into the river and killed. Therefore, the government should declare him a martyr besides investigating the murder. He further said social harmony has gradually worsened due to increasing movements in different parts of the country.

MJF-Democratic lawmaker Subod Kumar Pokhrel said his party supports the ongoing movements of the Tharu and Madhesi people. He drew the attention of the government and the Parliament to the need to probe into incidents that incite people against social and regional harmony.

Lawmaker Prem Bahadur Singh also demanded that the government address the logical demands of protesters, including Tharu and Madhesi people.

Hari Charan Sah questioned whether a government with people from the community was communal one or not.

Another lawmaker Rajendra Amatya said it was not good to split districts, including Rukum, Baglung and Nawalparasi. He said the people of Thori were irritated by the decision of the parties.

Similarly Surendra Jaiswal and Jaya Prakash Tharu also expressed concern about the decision to shift Thori VDC from Pradesh 2 to 3.

Chitra Bahadur KC also urged the leaders not to let religious and ethnic conflict flare up in the country. UML lawmaker Madan Kumari Shah urged the residents of Kailali to maintain restraint.