Dr. Govinda KC Announces 24th Hunger Strike in Dhangadhi Amidst Pleas to Postpone

Dhangadhi. As medical education reform advocate Dr. Govinda KC announced his 24th hunger strike in Dhangadhi, appeals to postpone his fast-unto-death have been increasing in Sudurpaschim. Political parties, student organizations, civil society leaders, and locals have urged him to stop the protest, expressing concern that the hunger strike might affect the operational process of the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University, which is in its final stages of preparation for operation in Geta. Dr. KC has scheduled his fast-unto-death to begin at 3 PM on Thursday at the Krishna Mandir Dharmashala in Dhangadhi. He is resuming his hunger strike with demands that the government implement past agreements, and that appointments made illegally to the Medical Education Commission and Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University be rectified. Meanwhile, in Sudurpaschim, there is a growing sentiment that a protest is inappropriate at a time when the long-awaited Geta University is on the verge of operation. Nitish Joshi, a member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for Sudurpaschim, visited Dr. KC at the Krishna Mandir Dharmashala on Wednesday and urged him not to go on hunger strike. He stated that the university's operational process has reached a crucial stage and that the protest could disrupt it. According to Joshi, Geta University is a decades-long dream of the people of the province, and at this juncture, prioritizing the university's operation over protest is essential. He conveyed this view to Dr. KC. However, Joshi reported that Dr. KC stated he would not back down from his hunger strike and urged no one to obstruct it. Similarly, Kuber Khadka, Chairman of ANNFSU Kailali, called the operator of Krishna Mandir Dharmashala, Muktinath Pant, and requested him not to allow Dr. KC to hold his hunger strike at the Dharmashala. He requested that necessary steps be taken to prevent any impact on the university's operational process. Voices supporting the operation of Geta University have also been rising on social media. Student leader Yamraj Joshi stated that for the people of Sudurpaschim, who have been waiting for the Geta Medical University to operate for over a decade, the current need is not protest but the university's operation. He wrote on social media, 'The buildings are ready, medical equipment is arriving, the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar have been appointed, and the University Act has been drafted. Students are conducting cleanliness campaigns on the university premises to raise public awareness. In such a situation, activities that hinder the university's operation are not appropriate.' Civil society leader Teertharaj Pant also expressed the view that prioritizing the university's operation is crucial at this time. According to him, once Geta University is operational, it is expected that students in Sudurpaschim will have the opportunity to study quality medical education in their own province. However, Dr. KC's side claims that their protest is not aimed at stopping the university's operation but at ensuring its legal, transparent, and quality operation. Dr. KC has put forward demands this time for the cancellation of appointments allegedly made illegally and against standards to the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University and the Medical Education Commission, amendment of controversial provisions in the relevant act, and an end to political influence in appointments. In a press release issued on Wednesday, he accused the government of failing to implement past agreements and ignoring his demands. Stating that he has been continuously struggling for the health rights of citizens, quality medical education, and good governance, he said there is no alternative to protest. Meanwhile, university officials have stated that most of the necessary procedures for operation are in the final stages. According to them, the process of appointing staff is almost complete, and the budget required for the operation of the teaching hospital in the current fiscal year has also been allocated.