Dr. KC Postpones Hunger Strike After Government Assurances

Kathmandu. Dr. Govinda KC's 24th hunger strike, which he resumed with his demands, was postponed on Monday, the fourth day, following intense activism from ruling party MPs.

Although Dr. KC's main agenda was the dismissal of the officials of Dashrath Chand University, the strike was postponed without any agreement on this issue. Primarily, there was no direct agreement on the issue of immediately revoking the illegal and self-serving appointments made to the Dashrath Chand Medical University and the Medical Education Commission, as mentioned in Dr. KC's first demand.

Instead, the agreement was limited to a proposal to amend the law regarding the qualifications of future officials. Similarly, the demand to immediately implement the provision of the act to make medical education completely non-profit has been entangled in an agreement to form a study task force.

Education and Sports Minister Sasmita Pokharel, MPs Tosima Karki, Pukar Bam, Sasmita Pokharel, Anand Bahadur Chand, and KP Khanal were actively involved in persuading Dr. KC to end his fast. Dr. KC's first demand when he started the hunger strike was: 'Immediately revoke the illegal and self-serving appointments made to the Dashrath Chand Medical University and the Medical Education Commission in violation of established rules and values, creating a conflict of interest, and promptly amend the controversial provisions of the act.'

However, there was no agreement on this demand.

Currently, Prof. Dr. Sunil Kumar Joshi is the Vice-Chancellor and Bhim Bahadur Chand is the Registrar of Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University. Although Dr. KC demanded their dismissal, ruling party MPs were active in downplaying this demand.

According to Dr. KC's side, RSP MP KP Khanal was very active in arguing against removing the current registrar. Some representatives from the Sudurpaschim region also stated that they were not in favor of removing the current Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. According to them, getting entangled in the current leadership change dispute could further delay the operation of the university and cause the province to fall behind again. Even before becoming ministers and MPs, Pokharel, Karki, and Bam were at the forefront of Dr. KC's movement. Some say that their direct role led to Dr. KC's hunger strike being postponed in just four days.

MP Dr. Tosima Karki, who supported Dr. KC's movement from the beginning, was diligent in getting Dr. KC's hunger strike postponed. Karki urged Dr. KC to break his fast unto death and hold direct talks with the Prime Minister. In an appeal on social media, Dr. Karki stated that the current government is the servant of the people, and there is no need to keep alerting it by risking one's life like previous governments. She said, 'Sir, a dedicated satyagrahi like you does not need to go on a hunger strike unto death to alert this government, this government is yours. You can come directly and discuss with the Prime Minister, you can directly give suggestions to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health.'

गोविन्द केसीलाई तोसिमाको सुझाव : भयो सर, अनसन छाडिदिनुस्

She also drew the attention of the parliamentary Health, Education, and Information Technology Committee.

Education and Sports Minister Pokharel was also actively involved in getting the hunger strike postponed. Pokharel contacted Dr. KC on the evening he started his fast. Talking to reporters, Pokharel said that no amount of thanks would be enough for Dr. KC. Recalling his involvement in Dr. KC's campaign in the past, Minister Pokharel said, 'I have worked by joining his campaign. No amount of thanks is enough for him in reforming medical education. Informal discussions with him have already begun.' Minister Pokharel had sent Secretary Chudamani Poudel to Dhangadhi.

MP Anand Bahadur Chand stated that it was not appropriate to obstruct the process based solely on suspicion and assumption before the university could even start operating. MP Pukar Bam was decisive in getting the hunger strike called off; Dr. KC broke his fast under his observation.

As per the agreement, it has been decided to operate a hospital with at least 300 beds at Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University and to immediately proceed with the MBBS educational programs. Furthermore, an agreement has been reached to amend the law regarding the qualifications and appointments of university officials, not to increase seats in private colleges, and to form a study task force to make medical education non-profit. In the past, similar agreements were made with Dr. KC, and later, due to non-implementation, he would go on hunger strike again.

Prof. Dr. Bibhutiranjan Jha, who has been observing the hunger strike, stated that Dr. KC's main demand has not been addressed. Jha said, 'From the beginning, government ministers and members of the negotiation committee were connected with Dr. KC's campaign, which is a positive aspect. However, the resignation of officials involved in conflicts of interest was the main issue.' He stated that if Dr. KC's demands are not met, it would be a betrayal. Jha added, 'The resignation issue is not mentioned in any clause of this agreement. It is stated that new criteria will be set within three months. If this clause addresses Dr. KC's demand, it is fine, otherwise, it would be like his own colleagues have betrayed him.'

He stated that within three months, criteria should be set, applications should be invited for university officials, and the best person should be selected through interviews. He said that every government makes agreements and deceives, and the current government also appears to have deceived in the initial stages.

The seven-point agreement states that the university will immediately proceed with the process to operate a hospital with at least 300 beds at Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University, Geta, Kailali, in accordance with clause 1 of sub-section 1 of section 12 of the National Medical Education Act, 2075. The agreement states that the Ministry of Health and Food Security and the Ministry of Education and Sports will coordinate and facilitate this.

It is mentioned that the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University, Geta, Kailali, will immediately complete the educational preparations, including faculty and staff recruitment and curriculum approval, for operating educational programs including MBBS as approved by the university assembly.

The agreement states that the university will immediately arrange all necessary arrangements for operating the teaching hospital, including the procurement of necessary manpower and equipment for the 300-bed teaching hospital.

The letter mentions that the government will propose to the Federal Parliament to advance the amendment process regarding the qualifications and appointments of university officials, including the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University Act, 2082, within the current session (within three months) by including it in the bill to amend certain Nepal Acts related to universities.