Coordinator of the Rastra, Rashtriyata, Dharma, Sanskriti ra Nagarik Bachau Mahaabhiyan, Durga Prasai, has announced that a formal dialogue with the government has been scheduled. Speaking at a press conference in Bhaktapur on Saturday, Prasai said that following his discussions with Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal on Friday, a meeting with Prime Minister Sushila Karki has been set for December 22.
Prasai claimed that the Home Minister invited him for talks and that the Prime Minister is positive about the demands he has raised. “The Home Minister called me. I have received a message from the Prime Minister stating that my demands related to people’s livelihoods are important. Due to some health issues, I will undergo treatment and rest, and we have agreed to hold talks on the 22nd,” he said.
He insisted that the demands he has put forth are not personal but concern the country, the citizens, and the working class. Prasai warned that if the demands are not addressed, he will resume a stronger movement. He described it as a positive sign that his demands have reached the Prime Minister’s table.
What Are Durga Prasai’s Demands?
Prasai has presented a wide range of economic, social, and political demands to the government. According to his briefing at the press conference, the main demands are as follows:
- Removal of Blacklisted Individuals:
Small and large business owners, transport operators, and those blacklisted by banks, cooperatives, or microfinance institutions should be immediately removed from the blacklist. The sale of non-banking assets taken over by banks must be stopped, and no new individuals should be added to the blacklist. - Ban on 35-Day Auction Notices:
Until further arrangements, banks and financial institutions should not publish 35-day auction notices. - Restructuring of Transport Loans:
Vehicles seized by banks should be returned to owners by restructuring the loans, since many seized vehicles have deteriorated while remaining parked. - Microfinance & Cooperative Harassment:
Employees of microfinance institutions and cooperatives should stop visiting homes to collect loan payments, as it creates mental stress. - Protection of Landless Squatters & Scrap Workers:
Bulldozers should not be used to evict landless squatters or scrap workers in Kathmandu Valley until a long-term alternative is provided. - Release of Gen-Z Protesters:
Those arrested during the Gen-Z movement must be immediately released, false charges withdrawn, and further arrests halted. - Separation of Banking & Business Interests:
Banks and business houses should be legally separated to prevent conflicts of interest (bankers should not run businesses, and business owners should not run banks). - Salary Increase for Security & Civil Personnel:
The salaries of army, police, and civil servants should be increased by at least Rs. 20,000 for now. - Increase in Prison Allowance:
The daily ration allowance for inmates should be increased from Rs. 96 to Rs. 200, as the current amount is insufficient due to inflation. Inmates who work inside the prison should be given leave benefits. - Referendum on Hindu State, Province Abolition, and Monarchy:
A national referendum should be held regarding the reinstatement of a Hindu state, abolition of provincial structures, and restoration of the monarchy.
Prasai warned that if the demands are not met, elections in the country will not be possible. “If these demands are ignored, forget about holding the 2084 elections in 2082. The movement will not stop,” he said.
He also clarified that he himself is not blacklisted and owns around 60 bighas of land and property, claiming that he has taken to the streets in support of the poor and powerless citizens.
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