Following the division of Rukum district into east Rukum and west Rukum in the new administrative structure, the residents of east Rukum are having differing opinions regarding the headquarters of the newly formed district.

Earlier in October 2017, Home Minister Janardhan Sharma in Sher Bahadur Deuba’s cabinet, had announced Rukumkot as the temporary headquarters of east Rukum during his election rally. Later on January 31 this year, then PM Deuba declared Golkhada as the headquarters of east Rukum. Deuba’s decision was contested by the locals and a writ was filed at Supreme Court against the decision.

An interim order of SC on February 1 has ordered the government to stay its decision to name Golkhada as the headquarters of east Rukum. The SC will announce its final verdict on February 20. People of Rukumkot and Golkhada are hoping that their places will be named the district headquarters.

In this periphery, residents of east Rukum assembled in Kathmandu on Sunday to press for Golkhada as the headquarters of east Rukum. They took out a protest rally in Capital playing traditional musical instruments. People of all age and gender participated in the rally.

Coordinator of the pressure group formed to lobby for Golkhada, Kesharman Roka, said: “We have taken strategy to continuously press the government to adhere to our demands. Our protest programmes include Singhadurbar and PM residence gherao.”

One of the protesters Puniraj Gharti Magar warned that they are ready to take any step and make sacrifices to materialize their demand for Golkhada as the east Rukum headquarters.

Photos: Prakash Timalsina