KATMANDU, Jan 30: Martyrs Day is being observed across the country today by paying tributes and respects to those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and people. 

Magh 16 in the Nepali lunar calendar every year is marked as the National Martyrs Day, commemorating those who were executed by the autocratic Rana rulers for voicing for people's rights and those who lost their lives in various movements launched for democracy and people's sovereignty. 

Freedom fighters Shukra Raj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand and Gangalal Shrestha who were sentenced to death for their battle for people's rights are remembered and respected as the four leading martyrs in country's political history. 

Nepal celebrates a martyr week from Magh 10-16 in the Nepali calendar every year. The four heroes of the country had established an organization Nepal Prajaparishad to motivate the people for fighting for their rights. Shukraraj was hanged from a tree near Pachali of Teku on Magh 10, 1997 BS. 

Dharma Bhakta was hanged in Sifal on Magh 13 and Dashrath Chand and Gangalal were gunned down at Shobha Bhagawati on Magh 15 by the then autocratic Rana rulers. The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Martyrs' Day. 

True tribute to martyrs if prosperous nation built: President 

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that all should work to make an economically prosperous nation based on justice and equality. 

In a message today on the occasion of the Martyrs Day, President Bhandari said that we should always keep in mind that those sacrificing their priceless life are eligible to be martyrs for the country and people. 

The President has also expressed best wishes to all for getting inspirations to materialize the dreams of those known and unknown martyrs to get motivated for joining in the great campaign of nation-building. 

Stating that federal democratic republic was established in the country due to the contributions of martyrs who got martyrdom after getting involved in different movements of the history, Bhandari said that making a prosperous nation by institutionalizing the achievements made so far would be a true tribute to the martyrs. 

Likewise, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has urged all to unite to materialize the dreams of martyrs for making a prosperous nation along with the sustainable economic development. 

Vice President Pun has also expressed due respects to the families of martyrs for the sacrifices of their invaluable lives for the establishment of democracy, loktantra and republic. 

The Vice President has said that the dreams of martyrs are gradually being fulfilled after the country heads towards political stability following the recent polls.

CPN (UML) chair Oli's message on Martyrs Day

CPN (UML) Chair, KP Sharma Oli, has called on all the fellow citizens to lend support to the mega campaign of building a prosperous nation. 

The UML chair made this call in a statement given on the occasion of the Martyrs Day, today. He also paid tributes to the known and unknown martyrs of the democratic movement. 

"The democratic republicanism has been established in Nepal with the sacrifices made by the martyrs and the Nepalis have now become sovereign with the promulgation of the constitution by the Constituent Assembly," the UML chairman and former Prime Minister stated. He has also recalled the sacrifices made by the martyrs for attaining the political, social and judicial rights for the nation. 

Chair Oli said that attaining the goal of 'Happy Nepalis, Prosperous Nepal' would be a true tribute to the martyrs. 

Noting that the people have entrusted the leftist alliance with the responsibility of leading the country in the new era, he said, "We would like to express our gratitude to the people for this trust they have reposed in the leftist alliance and commit to put into practice this trust with high reverence." 

The UML chairman also said that the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have forged an alliance to address the people's aspirations as achieving political stability, social justice and equality, national independence and self-respect, social harmony and prosperity. (RSS)

 
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