Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been advised to make an appeal to the people demanding changes in the temporary provincial centres in several parts of the country in order to remove obstacles to holding the National Assembly elections.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been advised to make an appeal to the people demanding changes in the temporary provincial centres in several parts of the country in order to remove obstacles to holding the National Assembly elections.
Places including Dhankuta, Birgunj, Dang, Nepalgunj and Doti are tense due to continued protests, especially after the government named other cities as the temporary provincial headquarters on Wednesday.
“We have advised the PM to address the people agitating in several parts of the country for halting the protests as the decision was aimed at clearing the way for Upper House elections,” said Commerce Minister Meen Bishwakarma.
Other Cabinet ministers have also advised the PM to address the agitating people immediately with a call to end the protests as the provincial capitals would be fixed by the state assemblies.
“The PM was positive on our suggestions. Hope this materialises soon,” said Bishwakarma.
People involved in property business, some sections of the business community and local political carders seem to be backing the agitations demanding a change in the Cabinet decision.
Every one of them is perceived to have stakes in the provincial capitals in the form of money, land, business and political turf, according to an official at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Bishwakarma made it clear that no form of protest would compel the government to reconsider its decision on temporary capitals. It is expected that the PM will make a televised address to the nation calling for an end to protests in view of the fast approaching elections.
A Home Ministry official said that no specific organisation or group was behind the demonstrations. “In most places, it is mostly the locals who have come out spontaneously. We have instructed the local administration to remain vigilant and exercise restraint,” said Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, spokesperson for the ministry.
Since there was no particular group to hold dialogue with, Duwadi said the government’s focus was on maintaining law and order.
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