Kathmandu, Nepal, June, 16, 2020: Widespread protests have been taking place in different parts of the country including in capital city, Kathmandu, against of the government demanding accountability regarding its overall handling of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Notwithstanding to the government’s warning against public gatherings and protests, hundreds of youths have been taking part in peaceful rallies in various parts of the country including in Kathmandu even on Monday.
The loose alliance of Nepali youths has been launching ‘Enough is Enough’ movement against of the government not only alleging it of failing to handle the COVID-19 but mentioning transparency of the expenditure made on the name of containing the virus.
As Prime Minister KP Oli had responded the transparency questions during his address in the parliament stating that the focus right now should be on fighting corona but not financial calculations, the protesting youths seem irritated and begun to demand now a breakdown of 10 billion Nepali rupees spent on the name of containing the VOVID-19.
Hundreds of youths have been protesting since June 9 even launching a campaign through social media too. As the existing measure taken on the name of containing the COVID-19 failed to bring tangible results, the agitators have a demand to change the ongoing methods by stopping the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), widening the use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests and mentioning quarantine facilities as per the WHO standards and others.
However, the government has not responded yet the demands of the youth even though the protests are continued across the country. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s statement made on Monday while inaugurating an alternative learning platform for school children seems to have targeted to the protests launched by youths but failed to address their concerns.
Though the protesters have been demanding transparency of expenditure with effective measures to deal the COVID-19, Prime Minister Oli had said that the nation doesn’t need any further protest claiming that the current government is capable of ensuring a prosperous future.
‘Let me assure that the country will progress,’ Prime Minister Oli had said adding that young people can look forward to a prosperous Nepal and that there is no reason to worry would irate further to the protesters.
As the youth protesters have been carrying the issues raised by the opposition parties including the main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC), the government has alleged the protest as politically motivated and biased.
