KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20

President Ramchandra Paudel has said that shortcomings of governance need to be overcome by political righteousness and that it is necessary for all to make democracy 'result-oriented' by establishing its sanctity.

At a programme organised at Sheetal Niwas today on the occasion of Constitution Day and National Day, 2023, President Paudel said, 'We must remain watchful to make sure that the achievements of people's movements are not again weakened from any quarter. We should remain alert to ensure that the provisions of democratic constitution are not subverted from anywhere.'

He mentioned that the present constitution had not only ended all kinds of discrimination and inequalities nurtured under authoritarian, centralised and unitary state system but had also made Nepali people sovereign with state power in the real sense.

'Our constitution, while stipulating federal democratic republic, has not only envisaged political, economic, social, religious and cultural freedoms but also justice to the helpless and income to the indigent,' President Paudel said, adding, 'The diverse range of rights provisioned in the constitution are aimed at providing unhindered freedom to the destitute people while giving them the opportunities to uplift theirliving standards.'

'Politically, the country has attained republicanism, the highest level of achievement that people aspired for a long time, but the true meaning of republicanism remains to be understood and internalised,' he viewed, adding, 'Its up to us to properly understand that republicanism is the system that not only ensures people's direct participation but also expects people to transform their conduct in accordance with the spirit of the system.'

President Paudel said, 'There were ample possibilities of making the country a distinct nation with Nepali ingenuity and one of the world's advanced nations. But this is possible only if we all work relentlessly to bring about drastic and righteous changes in our conduct and character in consonance with the democratic culture. There is no alternative to moving ahead by protecting the constitution and safeguarding the political achievements.'

'Our culture and nature have opened an avenue for infinite possibility to generate employment and income in the country. If we can properly harness the energy sector, modernise agriculture and expand tourism, we can surelyensure good governance and end all kinds of mismanagement. Nepal can easily reach the category of the world's advanced nations,' the president said.

The president said the country had been hit by natural disasters triggered by climate change for the past several years, pointing out the need to move ahead in concrete manner with international community for addressing the challenges posed by climate crisis. He also paid heartfelt tributes to martyrs who sacrificed their valuable lives for the establishment of democratic republic in Nepal, expressing sincere gratitude to the democratic fighters who endured imprisonment and exile during democratic movements and remained unwaveringly active in favour of political transformation in the country.

Vice-president Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Acting Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Chief Justice Bishwombhar Shrestha, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal, former chairperson of Council of Ministers Khilraj Regmi, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, ministers, former lawmakers, high-ranking officials of the government, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Nepal, mediapersons as well as other personalities, among others, were present on the occasion.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.