Rajbiraj, December 3

The hunger strike that Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Gajendrabadi) Central Chairperson Bikas Kumar Tiwari started seeking an improvement in the condition of Gajendranarayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Rajbiraj, Saptari has entered its 11th day today.

Tiwari’s health is said to be deteriorating. According to doctors involved in his treatment, Tiwari has been unable to sleep for the past two nights and is on saline from today.

Accusing the hospital administration and government of gross apathy towards hospital conditions despite frequent requests, five people including Tiwari had started a hunger strike on hospital premises from November 23. Four strikers, however, had ended their strike four days later following a 26-point agreement with the hospital administration.

Earlier, Madhesi Front Coordinator Subi Yadav, Secretary Prabhakar Singh, and Secretariat members Sabitri Pandit and Jayasundar Khidahari Yadav ended their strike after talks with the hospital administration in presence of Saptari Chief District Officer Baladev Gautam, the Armed Police Force, SP at the Border Security Office Jaya Bahadur Khadka, and Deputy Investigation Director at the National Investigation Centre Devraj Limbu, among others.

Tiwari has demanded that the hospital upgrade its services and hire better doctors. Similarly, he has sought early completion of the construction of an under-construction parturition home, and management of clean drinking water, proper canteen, and other facilities at the hospital. Further, demanding that the hospital keep its accounts fair, he seeks a probe into past irregularities.

Meanwhile, United Democratic Madhesi Front Saptari has expressed solidarity with Tiwari’s strike and urged the government to address his demand at the earliest. Today, a UDMF team led by its central and district level leaders visited Tiwari. The front’s district coordinator Amarnath Mandal warned of stern agitation unless the striker’s demand is met at the earliest.