Prez stresses institutionalised development of democracy

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has underlined the institutionalised development of democracy so that nobody would have to lay down their life for the same.

Addressing the National Martyrs' Day commemoration and a plantation ceremony organised by the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction and the National Martyrs' and Peace Memorial, at Gokarna here on Sunday, the Head of the State said, "Only the right kind of democratic practices strengthens the roots of democracy."

True tributes to the martyrs would be only paid when an environment is created in which no person would have to sacrifice his/her life (for democracy and freedom), President Bhandari said, adding that democratic exercises alone would help resolve the problem.

May the Martyrs Day inspire all the parties to move ahead forging consensus and working together, she wished.

On the occasion, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Sitadevi Yadav said completion of the construction of the Martyrs' Memorial would do justice, however little, to the martyrs.

The Peace and Reconstruction Minister shared that a task force had been constituted to distribute relief to conflict victims who did not get relief in the past and expressed confidence that all the conflict victims would get the relief.

She added that the Ministry would also expedite the post-conflict reconstruction.

Minister Yadav said although the construction of the Martyrs' Memorial was delayed due to the 2015 earthquake and the undeclared border blockade after September that year, the construction would now speed up.

Lawmakers Rameshwar Phuyal, Ambika Basnet and Pemba Lama, Ministry Secretary Suman Prasad Sharma and Chairman of the Martyrs' Memorial Construction Committee, Sudarshan Sigdel called for the cooperation from all sides for the construction of the memorial that would symbolise peace, democracy and national integrity.

The construction of the Memorial started five years back and so far 71 per cent of the works have been completed.

General Secretary of the Martyrs' Memorial Construction Committee Trilochan Paudel said the construction would be completed by April 2018.

The Martyrs' Memorial Park is being constructed in a 650-ropani land inside the Jagadol Community Forest at Gokarna. The Ministry has also approved a plan for the construction of five auxiliary parks at the same place.