TAKE HEED

The Kathmandu Post

10th April 2015

TAKE HEED

The three-day banda starting April 7, called by the 30-party opposition alliance, demanding that the new constitution be written on the basis of consensus among key stakeholders of the peace process had to be withdrawn after a day’s enforcement due to widespread pressure from all walks of life (‘Oppn bows to public pressure,’ April 8, Page 1). In some places in and outside the Kathmandu Valley, banda enforcers torched vehicles and motorcycles and clashed with security personnel, despite the organisers’ claim that the banda would be peaceful. 

The general public in some districts even openly defied the banda, expressing their dissatisfaction over the unwanted crippling of their normal lives. This indicates that calling a banda in the name of protest by any group in the coming days could see opposition from the public. In my opinion, the time has come for organisers to seek alternative means to express their dissatisfaction, rather than calling for a banda. 

Such a general strike is normally not organised anywhere in the world. Why do our political parties chose a banda over other ways of protest? Why don’t the so-called senior leaders sit for a fast-unto-death protest like Dr Govinda KC did five times until the government bowed to his genuine demands? The widespread protest against the recent banda called by the opposition bloc needs to be considered as an eye-opener for banda organisers in the days to come.

Rai Biren Bangdel,

Maharajgunj