Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 30

The Puwar Thapa family demanded that Sardar Bhakti Thapa be declared a martyr, at a programme organised on the 4th general anniversary of the Puwar Thapa Chhetri Kalyan Committee, in the capital today. Speaking at the programme, Parshu Narayan Chaudhary,

president of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee said that the country is passing through a critical phase. "People should continue to contribute from their respective fields and not run after propaganda," said Chaudhary. He also expressed his opinion on the importance of monarchy in the country. Sixty members gave blood at a blood donation programme organised to mark the event. The ancestors of Bhakti Thapa have their roots in Rajasthan, India, said R B Thapa, general secretary of the committee.

The programme was chaired by president of the committee, Ram Bahadur Thapa.