POKHARA: Participants at an interaction organised to mark Loktantra Diwas in Pokhara today expressed their concerns that democracy cannot be institutionalise, development cannot be achieved and people’s aspirations cannot be met unless the country gets the new constitution.

The participants of the interaction — ‘Institutional Development of Loktantra and Role of Political Parties — organised by the Civic Society Network, Kaski, said that the spirit of loktantra was not matching with people’s expectations.

Bhim Bahadur Nepali, an injured of the second people’s movement, said, “Even though it has been 10 years since we achieved loktantra, it is yet to be institutionalised.”

Khaga Raj Acharya, a rights activist, said that leaders were responsible for failing to institutionalise democracy. “Appointments of top officials in the judiciary, human rights, university and intellectual fields on the basis political leanings have been mocking the true value of loktantra,” regretted Acharya. “Justice can’t be traded,” he added. Similarly, Bishnu Baral, another activist, said political leaders needed to mend their ways.

Participants stressed on the need to promulgate the new statute at the earliest to institutionalise loktantra. “Failing to promulgate the constitution will jeopardise the entire dream of loktantra,” they regretted.