Kathmandu, March 1:

Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the need of the hour is to institutionalise democracy in a sustainable manner so that any other power does not snatch it away.

Inaugurating the national general convention of the Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT) here today, Deuba said the future of the country and its people would prosper only when democracy is consolidated and institutionalised, as free business along with workers’ rights cannot be established without sustained democracy.

He also said that the eight-point agreement signed by the government and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) on Thursday would facilitate to institutionalise peace and democracy and help hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in the country.

Vice-president of the NC Prakash Man Singh said that all Nepali people are standing on the verge of epoch-making changes and holding the Constituent Assembly election was the way ahead to address the aspiration of people.

General Secretary of the NC Bimalendra Nidhi welcomed the agreement reached between the government and United Madhesi Democratic Front and stressed to call other agitating groups in Tarai to give an outlet to the problems.

General Secretary of International Trade Union, Guy Ryder, said that the workers no matter where they belong to should move ahead with the same notion.

Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chandi Raj Dhakal, said industry and business can only thrive in a democratic system and the CA election could pave the way for establishing rights of workers.

It was also informed that the Nepal Trade Union Congress and DECONT would be formally unified from tomorrow.