For the past three days, talks have been held repeatedly between Home Minister Sudan Gurung and victims of loan-sharking in Nijgadh, Bara.
The fourth round of talks with the home minister concluded on Wednesday, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement, said Laxmi Ghimire, an activist representing the victims.
According to Ghimire, the talks began around 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday and continued for nearly four hours. Despite lengthy discussions between representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the victims, no agreement could be reached.
The victims’ main demand is that the draft of a six-point agreement already accepted by the home minister be signed in writing, without any changes, to give it official legitimacy. Ghimire said that the talks ended inconclusively after the government side did not accept this demand.
Informal efforts are continuing to facilitate dialogue between the two sides on Thursday as well. However, no decision has yet been made on when the fifth formal round of talks will take place.
Although the talks have been inconclusive, the victims have not stalled their protest. Ghimire says the march for justice will not be suspended and their journey toward Kathmandu will continue until their demands are met.
However, the victims maintain that while the protest continues, the door for dialogue and coordination with the government remains open.
“We, the victims who are marching toward Kathmandu demanding justice against loan sharking and fraud, are stuck in Nijgadh of Bara today (on the seventh day) as well,” she said.
The victims have been staying in Nijgadh for the past three days after the fourth round of talks with the government ended inconclusively on Wednesday night.
