Thousands of Cooperative Victims are on the Streets, Demanding to Return their Savings

Kathmandu : Cooperative victims gathered from different places of the country demonstrated in Kathmandu. On 1st of Chaitra (14th of March, 2024 A.D), they performed at various places in Kathmandu and reached Bhrikutimandap and held a demonstration.

The victims carried placards demanding action against the owners of the co-operatives who had cheated them and demanded to return their saving amount from the cooperatives. Savers complain that the money they have earned throughout their lives has been robbed by the cooperative. The police intervened when the victims from Bhrikutimandap proceeded towards the Cooperative Department to stage a “dharna” (Gathering together and demonstrating for certain demand staying in one place). The police stopped the victims in Bhrikritimandap, saying that they were instructed by the higher officials to do so.

The movement of the victims became stronger after the Chairman of the Cooperative Savers Protection National Campaign Federation, Kushlabh K.C, was ordered to be arrested. At the same time, the police also used stick to control the protest in addition to the scuffle between the police and the victims.

After the protest was not allowed to proceed, the victims staged “Dharna” at Bhrikutimandap on Thursday. Chairman K.C, said that the government is a silent spectator to meet the demands of the victims and said that they will continue to protest until their demands are met. Chairman K.C also said that the peaceful protest till now has not reached the ears of the government and said that the next protest will be violent.

“We are constantly pushing the Government to ask for our money. But the Government did not try to give us justice. During the peaceful protest, the Government did not open its ears. We are ready to die to get justice.  We would like to warn that, we, victims are ready to pay any price for our Justice. Even though we get unconscious, we will continue fighting for our justice”, said Chairman K.C.

Sita Pokharel, the victim, said that the Government made it difficult even to ask for own money. She said, “What kind of country is this where we have to protest for our own money to be returned back, which we have saved by cutting our food that we eat? What is the government looking at? Where is the Minister of Home Affairs?”

Similarly, the another victim, Subina KC said that the Cooperative robbed more than 4 Million Rupees of her money that she earned from her allowance and job salary. She said, “I am a single woman. I am getting 71 years old now. I have saved all my earning and allowance in the Cooperatives but now, it is being robbed from me, as Cooperatives are not ready to return it back. Now I don’t know how often I get sick as I am getting old. At that time, where will the treatment expenses come from? (Bringing tears in her eyes) There is hope, but when will it come?”

Subash Shrestha, also another victim said,” I did not get the money from the loan when I went to take money from the cooperative. They said there is no money in the cooperative’s fund due to which they are unable give them back the money they have collected. I did not get money as the loans. Now I am lacking the money for my fooding, clothing and shelter. There is no money even for medical treatment. The Government also has been ignoring our problem.”

The victims raised slogans against the Prime Minister and Home Minister. They asked about where is the Government justice now and what is the home minister doing regarding their problem. They raised slogans saying that the corrupt government is dead and silent. They said that the newly appionted, Home minister should solve the problem but he is also silent.