The satyagraha of Binay Yadav, who went on a fast-unto-death at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu with a strict warning to give up his life if his demands are not met to bring justice to the youth killed in the violent incident at Kaptanganj located in Ward No. 3 of Dewanganj Rural Municipality of Sunsari district, entered its eighth day today. A thick presence of leaders of various political parties, Madhesi leaders, civil society leaders, well-wishers, and the general public continues at the hunger strike site to express solidarity with the serious issues and just demands raised by him. Despite such immense public support and concern, no concrete initiative or seriousness has been shown from the government's side so far regarding the protection of the citizen's life and the sensitive demands raised. This silence of the state and this harsh situation where a citizen is ready to face death for justice has raised a serious question in the minds of the general public: after all, who is Binay Yadav?
Binay Yadav is an active political and social activist of Nepal. He is the central chairperson of the Rastriya Ekta Dal and is also known as the chief coordinator and leader of the civil platform named Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan. Through his political party and campaign, he has been continuously raising his voice for a long time on various issues of nationality, border defense, protection of Sanatan Dharma, advocacy for a Hindu nation, and civil rights, conducting movements that draw attention from the streets to the parliament. It is found that he has always stood on the frontlines for the sovereignty of the country and justice for citizens.
Based on official information provided by the Rastriya Ekta Dal and the Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan, activist Binay Yadav has made leading and historical contributions to countless just movements in the interest of the country and citizens. The main achievements achieved through the movements and initiatives under his leadership have been put forward with great importance. In this background, the main contributions claimed by his supporters are viewed as an important aspect of his struggle.
It is claimed that many national issues in good governance and infrastructure development were addressed through movements under the leadership of Binay Yadav. In particular, the initiative taken to expose alleged corruption in the Pokhara International Airport construction process, cause an impartial investigation into it, and arrest the involved planners is taken as a major achievement of his. In addition, the steps taken to start international flights from the same airport and the continuous pressure exerted to operate flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport reflect his alertness toward the country's infrastructure development. Similarly, keeping in mind the prevailing economic recession in the country, the strong movement launched to stop the distribution of funds from the Parliamentary Development Fund for lawmakers is also considered a significant action of his.
His role in matters of nationality and border defense is also said to have been quite aggressive and effective. He raised a strong voice against alleged Chinese encroachment on Nepali land on Nepal's northern border, especially at the Ruila pass located in Chumnubri of Gorkha district and in Humla district. In February 2022, under his leadership, the Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan reached the United Nations office in Kathmandu and submitted a memorandum drawing the attention of the international community against the Chinese encroachment in Humla. It is claimed that as a result of this movement, success was achieved in getting an investigation committee formed. Likewise, continuous pressure was exerted by him on the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation to return encroached Nepali land and conduct joint border inspections. Presenting as major achievements are also his organizing of a massive demonstration in Kathmandu demanding the cancellation of China's ambitious project Belt and Road Initiative calling it anti-national, and the pressure he exerted through the Ministry of Defence to cancel the process of unnecessarily purchasing weapons from China. In addition, he was active in bringing a stop to illegal commercial activities operated unlawfully by Chinese nationals in Birgunj.
He is equally vocal on matters of internal politics and social justice. His role in putting on hold the Madarsa Bill brought by the Madhesh Province government and the initiative taken to settle the payment of consumer committees, which was said to have been stopped for commission by the then Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development of Madhesh Province, Jitendra Sonal, shows his pro-people stance. Similarly, he campaigned to close down a television program believed to be sponsored by Christian missionaries that questioned the caste of renowned actor Rajesh Hamal. Apart from this, alleging that the Muslim Commission promoted a specific ideology, he has been continuously active in street movements demanding that the commission be scrapped and Nepal be declared a Hindu nation once again.
Binay Yadav, who raised so much voice for the country, society, and nationality in the past, has now taken to the streets risking his life purely in search of civil justice. Sitting on a hunger strike giving up food and water for eight consecutive days, his health condition is becoming very fragile and critical day by day. When the state machinery shies away from listening to legitimate voices of citizens and shuts the doors of justice, citizens are forced to choose such a harsh and arduous path. Indicating such circumstances, it is said that a fast-unto-death is a powerful weapon of powerless people. It is necessary for the state to understand the value of this peaceful yet lethal weapon used to break the arrogance of state power and establish justice. To save the life of Binay Yadav, who is pleading for justice while battling death, and to address the reasonable demands raised by him without delay, the government must immediately open the doors of talks and dialogue.
The list of major contributions made and movements led by activist Binay Yadav, President of Rastriya Ekta Dal and Coordinator of Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan, in favor of the country, society, nationality, and public livelihoods is as follows:
1. Exposure of Pokhara International Airport Corruption: Initiative taken to expose alleged corruption in the Pokhara International Airport construction process, ensure an impartial investigation, and bring the guilty to justice.
2. International Flights from Pokhara: Continuous steps taken to operate international flights from Pokhara International Airport.
3. Movement Against Humla Border Encroachment: Contribution made by protesting against the encroachment of Nepali land by China in Humla, leading to the formation of an investigation committee by the government.
4. Operation of Gautam Buddha Airport: Pressure exerted to conduct regular international flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
5. Cancellation of Unnecessary Arms Purchase: Contribution made to cancel the process of purchasing unnecessary weapons from China through the Ministry of Defence.
6. Closure of Christian Missionary-Sponsored Program: Protest conducted to close down a controversial television program believed to be sponsored by Christian missionaries that questioned the caste of superstar Rajesh Hamal.
7. Suspension of Madarsa Bill: Key role played in suspending the controversial Madarsa Bill brought by the Madhesh Province government.
8. Settlement of Consumer Committee Payments: Initiative taken to settle payments of consumer committees said to have been halted for commission by then Madhesh Province Infrastructure Development Minister Jitendra Sonal.
9. Closure of Illegal Business in Birgunj: Actions taken to shut down illegal commercial activities run unlawfully by Chinese citizens in Birgunj.
10. Demand to Cancel Parliamentary Development Fund: Protests led to stop the distribution of Parliamentary Development Fund money to lawmakers considering the current economic recession in the country.
Other Major Contributions and Activities:
11. Northern Border Security and Ruila Pass Dispute: Raising voice against the fencing and land encroachment by China at the Ruila pass in Chumnubri of Gorkha, and submitting memorandums to the UN Office in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Land Management.
12. Opposition to BRI Project: Leading a massive protest demonstration in Kathmandu demanding the cancellation of China's 'Belt and Road Initiative' project calling it anti-national.
13. Defense of Hindu Nation and Sanatan Dharma: Continuously engaging in civil movements for the protection of Sanatan Dharma and Vedic traditions with the demand to declare Nepal a Hindu nation again.
14. Justice for Victims of Sunsari (Dewanganj) Incident: Sitting on a fast-unto-death at Maitighar in Kathmandu to bring justice to the youth killed and injured in the violent incident in Dewanganj (Kaptanganj) of Sunsari and punish the guilty.
