2 ministers, Indian envoy meet Mahato in hospital

KATHMANDU, MAY 26 Home Minister Madhav Ghimire and Health Minister Vidhyadhar Mallik on Saturday reached Bir Hospital to inquire about the health condition of Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato , who was admitted there after his health deteriorated due to a hunger strike. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayanta Prasad and Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy Joydeep Majumdar also met Mahato. The government on Friday forcefully hauled Mahato from Shanti Batika in Ratnapark into an ambulance and admitted him to hospital. Mahato had been on fast for four days demanding that the government immediately announce the Constituent Assembly election date. His party has been agitating pressing 10 demands that include the formation of a constituency delimitation commission. During the meeting, both the ministers told Mahato that the government was serious about addressing his demands. In a meeting on Friday evening at Singha Durbar between Interim Election Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi and Sadbhawana party leaders, the government made it clear that it was not possible to declare the poll date without the four major political parties’ suggestion. “The parties are trying to suggest a date. The government cannot declare it unilaterally,” Regmi reportedly told the Sadbhawana leaders. In a meeting with Mahato, Indian Ambassador Prasad learnt about the demands put forth by the party. Prasad expressed his hope that the government would soon announce the poll date. According to sources, Mahato told Prasad that his party had resorted to the move as the government was indifferent to declaring the poll date. Mahato’s Press Coordinator Nimesh Karn said the former minister’s health was improving and that he is out of danger. Mahato has hypertension and diabetes.

source: ekantipur

Labels: slide