Speaking in an interaction on role of citizens in the present context organized by the local peace committee, the Informal Sector Services Centre (INSEC) and HimRights here on Saturday, they criticized this mode of protest and said that organizing banda and general strikes thereby, effectively disrupting public life, was an undemocratic and irresponsible action.[break]
They said that although it was right for the people to call for their rights, it was not a democratic practice to infringe on the rights of others.
The speakers urged the banda organizers to exercise restraint and seek alternative to this form of protests, pointing out that the unrelenting shutdown and general strike has disrupted the normal life and caused a great deal of hardship to the common man.
They also expressed concern over these agitation movements calling for guaranteeing identity of ethnic group might foment communal conflict.
A normal life in the Mid-west and Far-west regions has been thrown out of gear with the disruption of transport and other services due to the general strike enforced by the Joint Tharuwan Struggle Committee since the last 10 days.
The Tharuwan Struggle Committee has been enforcing the banda in 22 districts of the western Tarai from Chitwan in the east to Kanchanpur in the west, calling for a separate Tharuwan province.
Meanwhile, the Broader Madhesi Front has also enforced an indefinite general strike here since Saturday, adding to the difficulties of a general public already reeling under a crippling general strike.
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