Kathmandu. The fast-unto-death initiated by Binaya Yadav, Chairman of the Rashtriya Ekta Dal, in protest against the violent incident in Kaptanganj, Dewan Ganj Rural Municipality-3 of Sunsari district, entered its fifth day today. Various political, social, and religious figures have expressed solidarity with the ongoing hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu, urging the government to immediately initiate dialogue and the resolution process.
According to the Rashtriya Ekta Dal, the fast-unto-death was forcibly started because the demands were not effectively addressed despite repeated government attention following the Sunsari incident. The party had previously staged a protest in Kathmandu and given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government. Chairman Yadav started the fast-unto-death after no concrete initiative was taken within the specified timeframe.
The presence of party leaders, cadres, and supporters continues at the hunger strike site. Participants paid tribute to the individuals who lost their lives in the Sunsari incident, reiterating demands to provide justice to the victimized families, conduct an impartial investigation against the perpetrators and take action according to law, and for the government to immediately hold talks with the agitating party.
The demands submitted by the Rashtriya Ekta Dal to the government include declaring the deceased as martyrs, providing full treatment to the injured, enacting a law to hang jihadis, immediate deportation of Rohingya and Bengali refugees, abolishing Muslim reservation, and dissolving the Muslim Commission. The party has been urging the government to address these demands immediately.
Meanwhile, following the Sunsari incident, it has been made public that the government reached an agreement with the victimized families on certain matters, committing to advance the process of declaring the deceased as martyrs, providing relief, treating the injured, and conducting an impartial investigation. However, the Rashtriya Ekta Dal claimed that the government's commitments have not been fully implemented and no formal initiative has been taken regarding the movement's other demands.
As the hunger strike reaches its fifth day, concerns have begun to be expressed regarding Chairman Vinay Yadav's health condition. Party leaders stated that regular health check-ups are ongoing, warning that an unpleasant situation could arise if the government does not take it seriously. They stated that the government should start formal dialogue with the fasting party and seek a peaceful solution to the problem.
The Rashtriya Ekta Dal stated that if the government maintains its silence toward the demands, the movement will be expanded nationwide. According to the party, in the upcoming phase, protest demonstrations, sit-ins, and additional pressure programs will be made public in various districts. Furthermore, civil society, religious organizations, and political parties have also been urged to raise their voices in favor of justice and an impartial investigation.
Until the preparation of this report, the fast-unto-death continues peacefully at Maitighar Mandala for the fifth day. The Rashtriya Ekta Dal stated that it will soon announce decisions regarding further protest programs, while no new formal view has been made public by the government regarding the continuation of the hunger strike.
