Kathmandu, May 2:

Members of Parliament (MPs) today demanded the government provide certificates to family members of martyrs and people injured during the pro-democracy movement so that they can be provided with free health service, free education and public transportation.

Participating in a discussion in the House today, the MPs urged the government to replace old statues installed in public places with the statues of the martyrs. “The government should provide certificates to the family members of the martyrs. They should be provided free education and free health service. They should be supported financially so that they can lead a decent life,” CPN-UML MP Urmila Aryal said.

Aryal also demanded the government provide a Nepali citizenship certificate to the wife of an Indian national, Mohammad Jahangir Khan. Khan, who was injured in a police action while he was taking part in a demonstration in Tripureshwor on April 22, died yesterday.

Honouring their sacrifices for democracy, the government should install statues of the martyrs in public places, she said.

The MPs who took part in the House session supported the proposal tabled by NC MP Dilendra Prasad Badu. In the proposal, Badu demanded that statues of martyrs be installed in public places and compensation be provided to family members of the martyrs. “I urge the government to replace the pictures of the King and the Queen in government offices with the pictures of the martyrs so that everyone will remember their contribution to democracy,” said Janamorcha Nepal MP Nabaraj Subedi.

Subedi also demanded the government provide at least 1.5 million to each and every family of the martyrs.

NC (D) MP Umakanta Chaudhary lamented the current power struggle among the leaders. “The martyrs sacrificed their lives for democracy,” he said, adding: “We must respect their sacrifices.”