Dr Govinda KC, an orthopaedic surgeon and a crusader of reforms in medical education, may have ended his fast but he isn’t done putting pressure on Parliament.

Dr KC and an alliance that supports his peaceful protest have stepped up pressure on parliamentarians to act against Lokman Singh Karki, the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

On Saturday, hundreds marched towards the Parliament building in New Baneshwor demanding Karki’s impeachment.

Karki stands accused of improperly intervening in medical colleges to benefit a select group of individuals. In recent weeks, media reports have documented several instances of CIAA, the very agency designed to check abuse of authority by public officials, ironically abusing its own authority.

Dr KC, who had initially agreed to march from Maitighar Mandala, joined the mass near New Baneshwor because doctors advised him against walking for long, especially when he is recovering from his 15-day fast.

In New Baneshwor, he sat along with the protesters

and addressed the gathering, urging MPs to take action against CIAA chief Karki. “It’s the need of the hour. Democracy will not sustain under such threats of

Karki and his cronies,” said Dr KC. He charged that

the CIAA had been blatantly interfering in medical

colleges by overstepping its jurisdiction.

Dr KC has been pressing parliamentarians to begin the process for impeachment of the CIAA chief commissioner. Although a proposal has already been registered in Parliament, deliberation is yet to begin. Many believe lawmakers fear that the CIAA could drag them into corruption investigation if they begin the proceedings.

Saturday’s event was

coordinated by Solidarity for Dr Govinda KC Alliance and was promoted on social

media platforms as #WalkWithDrKC. Bibeksheel Nepali, a political party, had supported the event.

The alliance is planning to submit a memorandum

highlighting major cases of interference by the CIAA in the medical sector along

with “proof”. “We wanted to submit it today but it did not work out as planned. We will do it by next week,” said Dr Jiwan Kshetry, a close aide

of Dr KC.

Many people who attended the rally said they would

keep supporting Dr KC and the cause he is fighting for. “We all know the CIAA chief is not doing good things. This is the right time to speak against him,” said Dhurba Pariyar, who is doing his Master’s in English at Kirtipur. “We have to pile pressure on the government to implement agreements reached with Dr KC including Karki’s case.”

Dr KC broke his fast on July 25 after the government agreed to buy the property of the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. This would ensure that no new medical college is established inside the Kathmandu Valley for the next decade. Also, the government has agreed to establish medical colleges in each province allocating most seats for free medical education.

Many people who attended the rally said they would

keep supporting Dr KC and the cause he is fighting for

n Dr Govinda KC addresses a rally at New Baneshwor in Kathmandu on Saturday. Post Photo: Hemanta Shrestha

BRB: Corrupt parliamentarians have no guts

DHANGADHI: Naya Shakti Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai said on Saturday that an impeachment motion had not been moved against CIAA Chief Commissioner Lokman Singh Karki as almost all the top political leaders were corrupt themselves. “All the leaders remain tight-lipped [on the matter]. The act of not proceeding with impeachment even after the issue was registered in Parliament is disrespecting the sovereign legislature,” Bhattarai said at a press meet organised in Dhangadhi. The former prime minister added that the CIAA’s role in controlling corruption had not been satisfactory. (PR)