A demonstration is always going on in one corner of the Maitighar Mandal in Kathmandu. Groups seeking justice sit on sit-ins and raise slogans. Agreement is all there is, implementation is rare. Therefore, those who returned to the village with assurances come to the capital with more demands. Although they are ready to compromise, there is no practice of being honest in the implementation of the government mechanism.
An example is Swargadwari Guthipidid farmers demonstration. Earlier, they were sent to Fakaifu, but due to non-implementation of the commitment, they have come back to Maitighar for a month and have been protesting. This year, instead of addressing the demand, the government has resorted to oppression. In Sunday's clash, both farmers and police were injured. It is an unfortunate situation that the demands of the aggrieved farmers are not addressed for months, instead clashes and injuries occur.
Maitighar demonstration of the initiative of Dangka Tharu, who was forced to become the owner of his own land. In 12 mauzas (villages) of Dang there are 3 thousand 5 families of Swargadwari Guthi Mohi who are cultivating 1 thousand 50 bighas of land. But the ownership of that land is in the name of Swargadwari Guthi. They had only Mohiani parts, that too has been canceled by Supreme Court order on 14th Chait 2062. The Supreme Court has dismissed Mohi Purja saying that 'Swargadwari Guthi is a private Guthi of a special nature and therefore the land of the Ashram cannot be fragmented'. In this way, the farmers who were making mohi on the land that was once their own land are moving to Kathmandu in search of justice after the mohi parts were also cancelled. They have been in the movement for three and a half decades, they came to Kathmandu and were protesting in Maitighar since February 7, 2080. After the protest lasted for a month, the government reached an agreement. After its non-implementation, they have been protesting in Kathmandu since January 20. They are ready to suspend the movement only after the Guthi Bill is registered in the Parliament.
Not only in the case of Guthipidit, the problem remains unsolved because the government makes agreements only to postpone many such demonstrations. The government has repeatedly reached an agreement with the agitating group led by Ruby Khan, demanding action against those involved in the murder of Nirmala Kurmi of Nepalgunj. The movement which started last time from July 25 in Maitighar has been postponed with the consent of October 13. But no progress has been made in implementing the agreement. Similarly, last year, teachers protested against the school education bill, which focused on Kathmandu. After the bill did not move forward, the teachers are preparing to strike again. Many groups like sugarcane farmers, meter-busting victims, co-operative victims, residents of Madhesh who have faced drinking water problems, and those seeking equal rights for Dalits, have come to Maitighar. Many protestors have even come from Madhesh district on foot. But the policy of exhausting the small or big groups only if the government policy of making compromises fails, the main problem remains the same.
In a democracy, it is natural for citizens to protest alone or in groups to fulfill their demands. Since the state is the parent, harassing the citizens on the contrary is also a neglect of democracy. Due to the state's neglect, sugarcane farmers had to demonstrate in Kathmandu in the cold of December demanding payment of arrears, while the victims of meter exploitation had to demonstrate in the rain. Now Guthipeedite is also protesting since January. The greatest weapon of the citizen is the voice, the state should establish the culture of proving its credibility instead of the jugad that considers the voice to be weak and can be interpreted in many ways even when making a compromise. It is expected to be sensitive to the demands of Swargadwari Guthipidit for its initiation.
