Rajbiraj, January 20:

The Minister for Local Development, Tanka Dhakal, has said that democracy should not be used as a means to fulfil one’s personal interests. He said this while speaking at a programme organised to discuss the preparations for the upcoming municipal polls, here today.

Dhakal said: “The present crisis in Nepal is the result of the political parties using the institution of democracy to serve their own ends.”

Democracy is now imperilled as the political parties have failed to understand the fact that the people constitute the soul of democracy, he said, adding, those claiming to represent the people should not shy away from the polls.

“There is little point criticising the polls being organised by the government led by the King himself,” Dhakal said. “How can the polls be termed an act of regression when they are being held for the people?” Dhakal asked. Saying that the number of terrorist activities had gone up during the reign of the major political parties, Dhakal accused the parties of not acknowledging their mistakes.

If the party leaders had even an iota of intelligence, they would help the King establish peace in the country, minister Dhakal said. He added that the municipal polls would help make people sovereign and as the major political parties had joined hands with the “terrorists”, the small parties needed to contest the elections.

Speaking at the same programme, DDC Chairman Mukti Nath Mandal, said a door-to-door programme was being organised in the district, urging people to come out and vote in the municipal polls, while the Chief District Officer, Tilak Ram Sharma, assured the poll candidates and the voters that they would be provided with necessary security during the elections.

Minister shown black flags

Rupandehi: Caders of seven students unions today waved black flags to Minister for Local Development Tanka Dhakal. He had arrived in the district to participate in an interaction on municipal polls.

The police arrested three student leaders including district member of Nepal Students’ Union (Anandidevi) Shambhu Yadav in this connection. Earlier, prior to minister’s arrival, police had arrested FSU President of Mahendra Bindeswori Multiple Campus Sameer Jha, Dinesh Kumar Yadav of NSU, district vice chairman of NSU-Anandidevi, Binod Mandal, FSU member Mithilesh Mishra and Ghananda Yadav of NSU-Democratic one hour prior to minister Dhakal’s arrival. —HNS