Govt urges Dr KC to withdraw hunger strike

Kathmandu / Oct 1: While stating that the majority of the demands put forth by senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC have already been fulfilled and a few others are in the process of implementation, the government has urged the agitating Dr KC to withdraw his hunger strikes.

Addressing a press conference organized to publicize the decision of cabinet meeting on Thursday evening, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali urged Dr KC to withdraw his hunger strike as the government is honestly working to fulfill the demands raised by him.

“The government has already fulfilled the major demands of Dr KC. One of the major demands of Dr KC to allocate 75 percent of seats in government medical colleges has already been implemented,” said Gyawali, who is also the government’s spokesperson.

Minister Gyawali maintained that there is no point in staging a strike as the majority of his demands have already been fulfilled by the government. “The country is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. So this is not the right time to stage protest for Dr KC. It is the time to collectively fight against the pandemic ,” said Gyawali, while urging Dr KC to end his hunger strike.

Dr KC has been staging his 19th hunger strike for the last 18 days demanding the government bring reforms in the medical sector of the country. He has put forward a six-point demand with the government.

“Dr KC has demanded the government establish medical colleges in every province. The demand is already in the process of implementation as medical colleges are under construction in all the provinces,” he said, adding that the government has also expanded the scope of PCR testing, which is also among the demands put forth by Dr KC.