KATHMANDU, May 29: The country marked the 6th Republic Day on Wednesday, but with a division for the first time since it turned into a federal democratic republic.
The Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD), an alliance of various professional organizations, boycotted the Republic Day function organized by the government at Tundikhel in the capital, stating that the country was heading toward regression because of the four political forces--UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).
The alliance organized a separate function, at New Baneshwor, to mark the day. [break]
Addressing the function, senior advocate and former president of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) Shambhu Thapa stated that they will continue their protests for the sake of democratic norms and values.
“We will build public opinion against voting for Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Sushil Koirala, Jhalanath Khanal and Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar in the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) elections,” he maintained.
Thapa also urged the president to correct his step regarding endorsement of the ordinance on removing constitutional difficulties. “If he (president) is really a republican, he should correct the order he issued to approve the ordinance,” he added.
Meera Kayastha, mother of ´living martyr´ Mukesh Kayastha, said with eyes full of tears that the martyrs had not sacrificed themselves for the present state of affairs.
Singer Robin Gandharba stated that the top leaders of the four major political forces have forgotten their promises.
“We had promised to abolish the dictatorship of the monarchy seven years ago, at this same place,” he maintained, adding, “Monarchy has been abolished but dictatorship [of the top leaders of major political parties] continues.”
Chairman of NBA Hari Krishna Karki asked Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi to step down from the post of chief justice (CJ) to show respect for the principle of separation of powers.
“If not, a situation will be created for demanding his resignation from the posts of CJ as well as head of government,” Karki warned.
NBA General Secretary Sunil Kumar Pokhrel stated that they had never imagined they would need to organize a separate function to mark Republic Day. “The practice of dictatorship has begun in the name of conducting fresh polls,” he said.
Chairman of Nepal Medical Association Dr Anjani Kumar Jha asked the political leaders to beg for pardon for their mistakes.
Comedian Manoj Gajurel mocked the top leaders of the four political forces, stating that they were deviating from principled politics.
Former chairman of the then CA Subhas Nembang, CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel, NC leader Laxman Ghimire and youth leader Gagan Thapa and Chairman of CPN (Maoist) Matrika Prasad Yadav were also present at the function.
Participants in the function held placards that read ´We don´t accept broker politicians´, ´Parliament is no place for the corrupt´ and ´I love my country but it is shadowed by foreigners´.
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