DOLPA: A general strike in Dolpa district demanding Surkhet as its provincial capital in the new federal setup has entered its fifth day today.

However, 'failure' of the lawmakers, who were elected from the district in the second Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, to support with their agitation and raise their concerns in the Parliament has saddened the local people.

Local social worker Jyoti Prasad Pahari accused CPN-UML lawmaker Dhan Bahadur Budha, who was elected from the district in the second CA elections, of being ignorant about the demands of the folks and failing to raise the voices of local people in the Parliament.

He, however, said that the lawmakers from Karnali Region have pledged to address the demands of local people and leaders of various political parties in the region, who have been launching demonstrations, demanding Karnali as an autonomous state in the new federal setup.

He said that the people of Dolpa are saddened by the apathy of the lawmakers from Dolpa to address demands of the local people.

Local people said that Budha had pledged road access to the district, establish a hospital and educational institutions before being elected as the lawmaker, but they said Budha hardly visited 10 times thereafter, let alone raise the talks of development of Dolpa in the Parliament.