Politicians today called for the government to solve the Maoist crisis through talks and demanded that families of the victims of the insurgency be compensated. From cadres of political parties to ordinary citizens are victimised by Maoists. They pointed out that it is a common problem which should be solved with joint efforts.

“The government has appointed over 40 ministers and countless advisors but it has failed to provide relief measures to those afflicted,” said Member of Parliament (MP) Shukra Lal Sharma at the relief items distribution programme. The programme was organised by Maoist Victims Association (MVA).

Sushil Koirala, general secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) distributed the relief items and Rs 20,500 collected by MVA to 62 Maoist victims. Sharma called on the government to declare Maoist afflicted areas and to form policies and programmes for the victims and also create necessary infrastructure for them.

Politicians unanimously voiced concern over the government not taking action against a certain minister who allegedly donated around Rs 15 lakhs to Maoists. They emphasised that the victims in villages have either lost their eyesight, arms or other parts of the body due to terrorist atrocities.

All democratic parties should come together to counter the Maoist insurgency, said MP Ram Bahadur Bista. He pointed out that not even a single penny from the government budget goes to the victims of the insurgency and that the country’s infrastructure is being destroyed one by one. “If houses of the bigwigs are destroyed, they receive a large amount of money for the re-construction but not a single penny goes to the common people,” he said demanding justice to all sections of society.

Addressing the programme, Koirala said that the consolidated voice from all quarters is required to solve the problem. “We have to pressurise the government to solve the Maoist problems,” he said assuring the victims that NC has already started a campaign to tackle the insurgency.

Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala distributing relief items to the victims of Maoist violence. Himalayan Photo