Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has demanded the resignation of Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel.

At a press conference organised in the Capital on Friday, Dr KC said he demanded resignation of the Education Minister for his role in “creating obstruction in passing the National Medical Education Bill that is under consideration at the Education and Health Committee of the Parliament.

The anti-corruption crusader, who has already staged 15 rounds of hunger strike demands reforms in country’s medical education sector, said that Education Minister Pokharel has lost the moral ground to remain in the post as he has been obstructing the passage of National Medical Education Bill by going against the agreement signed at the initiative of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

 “It is irresponsible for the line minister, who has the responsibility to draft the National Medical Education Bill, himself to introduce the Bill by altering major provisions of the Medical Education ordinance,” he said.

Dr KC said that he could resort another round of hunger strike any time without prior notice to press for his demands.

In a statement on Friday, Dr KC lamented that the quality of the country’s medical and education sector had been compromised at the hands of corrupt leaders and mafia.

 “It is unfortunate and shameful that we are forced to fight repeatedly to formulate the policies and rules of broader public welfare for which the elected peoples’ representatives should have taken initiatives on their own,” Dr KC said.

He voiced displeasure at the recent incident of President Bidya Devi Bhandari awarding former chief justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli and Tribhuvan University Vice-chancellor Tirtha Raj Khaniya, two of the people he targeted in his anti-corruption movement.

 “On one hand, the government says it has zero tolerance against corruption. On the other, it awards corrupt people. This exposes the government’s real intention,” Dr KC stated. Dr KC ended his 15th hunger strike on July 26 after pledge to endorse the bill by incorporating the recommendations of the Kedar Bhakta Mathema committee.

Earlier on August 29, Education and Health Committee had summoned Dr KC to discuss the agreement but he snubbed the meeting arguing that it was useless to discuss the bill over and again.