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key stakeholders of the peace process had to be withdrawn after a day’s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
