Nowadays, citizens from the Far East to the Far West reach the Maitighar Mandala Road, begging for justice. Until a few days ago, the leaders of the 'Save the Slums' campaign stood at the Maitighar with a sad heart. The very people who guarded the country's borders were telling the story of being 'stateless', 'We, the ones who saved the land, became landless. We became citizenshipless.'

While returning home, 83-year-old Nabijah Khatu had expressed her wish from the Maitighar with a faint hope, 'I want to get Nepali citizenship before I die.' The government has assured her, but whether it will soothe their sorrowful hearts or not, remains to be seen.

Susta residents are returning with a glimmer of hope

In Ashar, sometimes enduring the scorching sun and sometimes the rain, displaced landless Sukum residents also sat on a sit-in at Maitighar. They had come here from inside and outside Kathmandu demanding justice. Sometimes, meter-tariff victims walk for hours to reach Maitighar, and sometimes, ruby ​​miners stand on their cracked feet demanding punishment for the murderers who are walking freely. Deepa Nepalis, unable to bear the caste discrimination, are also asking, ‘Is the government room empty?’ at Maitighar.

After the government took away the jobs of the blind, who were making a living by selling incense or singing on the streets, they came to Maitighar to express their concerns about the dark future. Will those who reached Maitighar without getting justice return with justice? Will the nearby courts, parliament building and Singha Durbar hear their voices?

Like other days, on Friday, Maitighar Mandala was covered with agitated voices and restless faces. 28-year-old Manish Kumari is on a sit-in with a pamphlet with slogans like ‘Justice or Death’. A permanent resident of Bara Bishrampur Rural Municipality, she has been on a sit-in since 28th Jestha. She is an accounts officer. Manisha said that her male accounts officer colleague blackmailed her and caused her mental stress. ‘The case on 5th Jestha was postponed. My case was not heard on 16th Asad,’ she explained, ‘I am tired of fighting. May the verdict be swift.’

Sharmila Shahi was breastfeeding her three-month-old son in a nearby green tent. The baby’s clothes were drying on the tent. Sweat was pouring down her face due to the scorching sun. Sharmila has been staying at her maternal home for 22 days, hoping for justice. She says that Bhupendra Thagunna raped her.

Bhupendra had promised Sharmila, whom she met through TikTok, marriage on the first day. ‘While the baby was growing in her womb, he ran away to India with another woman,’ Sharmila said. Three months ago, Sharmila gave birth to a son. But the man was still unknown. ‘I was 9 days pregnant. My relatives beat me up for having sex with a boy,’ she said, crying. Then she went to the police station to register a case. The case is currently ongoing in court.

Devika Khanal was lying in another tent. She had a separate list of sorrows. She was pleading for justice with the slogan of the pamphlet hanging on the wall saying, 'Should the government give justice to single women?' Devika, 28, from Sunsari, is a single woman. She has a daughter. She worked in a company. She used to educate her daughter with the same salary. She used to pay the rent.

Her normal daily routine suddenly came to a halt on 22 Falgun 2081. On that day, while returning from work, a car driven by Suman Thapa, Ward Chairman of Inaruwa Municipality-6, hit the bike she was riding. She was injured. She was taken to Virat Nursing Home in an unconscious state. Devika now cannot move both her legs. She is accused of negligence in her treatment. Initially, the doctor had said that she would have to stay in the hospital for many days. ‘I don’t know what went on inside, but suddenly she was discharged the next day,’ she says. Devika has undergone five surgeries so far. ‘Without walking, I have neither been able to earn nor do anything for my daughter,’ she says. ‘What should I do in this situation?’

After coming to the protest, she initially had hope from the government. ‘I had hoped for justice after Sudhan Gurung became the Home Minister. But I haven’t got it yet,’ she says. Now she has no income, only debts have piled up. She has not been able to get further treatment. She has been on a protest at her maternal home for 73 days. She sat on a hunger strike to death for 16 days. ‘But I came here saying that those who would listen, but they have not listened, which has made my heart even more broken,’ she said with a worried expression.