KATHMANDU : President Ram Chandra Paudel has extended best wishes to all Nepali brothers and sisters living in the country and abroad on the occasion of the 16th Republic Day today. He has wished for peace, prosperity and happiness on this occasion.
President Paudel paid tributes to those who got martyrdom in the course of the struggles made for the establishment of democratic republic. He also highly appreciated the role played by political leadership, cadres and civil society for this cause.
“The democratic republic is based on pluralism where every citizen is equal and supremacy based on dynasty is changed radically by the people. It is a major feature. It is the historic day that Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic,” President Paudel reminded, adding that political behavior and character should be in line with the objective of the republic and if it is forgotten, it would be sheer disrespect to the long struggles and people’s sacrifice.
The President further recollected that three generations have spent lives in struggles and movements to ensure present rights to citizens. “The governance/system now must be as per people’s need and aspiration that elevates their lifestyle.”
In the message, the President underscored the need for transparency, accountability, good governance, people’s participation in development plans and practices, social justice, creation of jobs, and smooth service delivery to make the federal republic robust. For this to happen, honest and ideal political leadership is the first requirement, according to him.
Also stressed by the President are mainstreaming of poor and backward communities with rights, control of exodus of youths, adequate attention to villages with facilities, respect to labor. He further underlined that politics is not a business to reap benefits but merely social service.
Similarly, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the development of democracy is possible within a democracy.
In a message of best wishes today on the occasion of the Republic Day today, Prime Minister Dahal has said that the present government is working to institutionalize the political changes achieved through great struggle and sacrifices and transforming the country from a least developed to a developing and developed one.
“Constitution and republic are becoming widely accepted, basic services are being provided to the people through the enforcement of fundamental rights, rights of marginalized communities of different class, caste, language, religion, region, gender and culture are being established which is laying a strong foundation for the republican system to be institutionalized,” he has said in the message.
Stating that the day today should be remembered as a historic day that led the political history of Nepal to a new era, he said the struggle for ending the dynastic feudal system and establishing a people’s system was never easy. “Today we have become respected and sovereign citizens of a free, sovereign and democratic country. Today, the country is being run by people’s representatives elected by the people. It is a matter of pride to have constitutional guarantee for equal rights and opportunities and status to all Nepalis without any discrimination.”
The Prime Minister has said that economic, social and cultural transformation of the Nepali people is the essence of the current system. Hence, the attention of all parties, including the government should now be focused on fulfilling the objectives of the republican system. “Unity and cooperation between all political parties and the Nepali people is necessary for the institutional development of the federal democratic republican system.
Stating that it is natural to have different opinions and ideas in a democracy, he however said that the country can move forward and the foundation of national unity strengthened only if all political parties and the Nepali people have the same and undivided opinion on important national issues.
Prime Minister Dahal has made it clear that democracy and republic will not be justified unless the quality of life of the common people is improved and unless they can easily exercise their full rights in the constitution and law. “It is necessary to stand firm in favor of good governance while building a socialist-oriented self-reliant economy as specified by the constitution.”
In the message, the Prime Minister has also wished that this day would inspire everyone to follow the path of truth and justice shown by the martyrs and realize the dream of building a beautiful, prosperous and equitable Nepal.
