Kathmandu, Feb. 26: Nepal is no stranger to protests. The country has seen numerous protests over the years, some to topple autocratic regimes, some to oppose government policies and others to demand rights. But while the causes may have varied, one thing has remained constant – every generation in every agitation has pelted bricks. This past week’s protests over the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have been no different.

Almost every day since the American grant assistance was tabled in the federal parliament, scores of people have gathered at New Baneshwor, chanted slogans, clashed with security forces and thrown stones, twigs, bricks, blocks and what have you.

“But where do they get these from?” said Rajiv Kunwar, an employee at a bank in Baneshwor. “People appear to arrive empty handed but after a few hours, everyone has bricks in their hands,” he said in astonishment.
Shankar Pyakurel, who lives in Pipalbot near the federal parliament building, had the answer: “They smashed the sidewalks and dug out the tiles to hit policemen with,” he said. “They hit the pavement with boots, helmets and rods. On Sunday, I even saw some men dig up asphalt from the road.”

And when they cannot dig up the footpath, they uproot the plants planted in between the lanes, said Sangeeta Luitel, who operates a parlour at Binayaknagar. “It was savagery.”
New Baneshwor, which has been the stage for the anti-MCC crowd to demonstrate their fury, lies on the Maitighar–Tinkune Road. This road, and all the structures on it, was built, repaired and expanded in 2013 at a cost of Rs. 450 million, which was at the time, the most amount spent on a road section in the capital. Similarly, the plants were planted for the 18th SAARC summit held in Kathmandu in November 2014.

“The road and the greenery cost a lot to build and have required much effort and resources to maintain. That is why it is heart-breaking to see them getting damaged,” expressed Hari Prabha Khadgi, Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. “The destruction of our physical infrastructure will ultimately be of detriment to us.”
Khadgi also hoped that, going forward, the protesters would not take out their anger on roadside structures. “In a democracy, people have the right to voice dissatisfaction but there are ways to do that without destroying public property. The [anti-MCC] demonstrators, who seem youthful and aware, will hopefully refrain from activities that damage structures built for public service with taxpayer money.”

The agitators though seem to have no intention of changing their ways. Just on Friday, The Rising Nepal encountered three male protestors who were preparing to break the sidewalk in front of The Everest Hotel with a rod. Asked why, they said for self-defence. “The police charge at us with batons and water cannons and we need something to charge at them back,” one of them said.
Another one got annoyed and raised his voice: “Are we the first persons to be doing this? Have no leaders and cadres damaged public property for their protest in the past?”
The three were not successful in their ‘endeavour’ though and went away after they heard that the House had been postponed.