Hetauda, January 21:

Chairman of the Nepal Samata Party and Land Reform and Management Minister Narayan Singh Pun today said everyone is free to exercise their rights in democracy.

Speaking at a programme organised by the NSP Makawanpur working committee in Hetauda today, Pun said: “We are not anti-democratic.” While the minister was addressing the meeting in the area declared prohibited zone by the local administration, cadres of five

political parties were chanting slogans against the government there.

The minister, refering to the slogans against the municipal elections, said: “The municipal poll is an appropriate alternative to solve the present national crisis.”

“We are trying our best to solve the Maoist problem,” Pun said adding: “The Maoist problem could be solved only through talks.”

Addressing the programme, Govinda Khatiwada, chairman of the Makawanpur District Development Committee (DDC) said: “The DDC has also formed a committee to make the municipal polls a success.”

Urging the people to cast their votes and elect their candidates, Khatiwada suggested that no one should stand back from practising democratic rights.

The programme was chaired by Shyam Lama, chairman of Nepal Samata Party, Makawanpur.