Dhangadi, June 20

Minister for Home Affairs Janardan Sharma today said the upcoming civic polls will be held in a more peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

“The leaders of agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist have also filed their  nominations to contest the second phase of civic polls slated for June  28,” said Minister Sharma.

Speaking to mediapersons at a press meet organised in Dhangadi today, Home Minister Sharma claimed that RJP-N leaders were filing their candidacies in Tarai districts and the Chand-led CPN Maoist were filing their nominations as independent candidates in Rolpa.

Minister Sharma urged the public to vote for candidates of their choice, and he assured them of all the necessary security and safety. “I request all to prepare and take part in the elections with enthusiasm,” said Minister Sharma.

Meanwhile, Sharma said that the civic polls in Province 2 were postponed for the third phase not because of security concerns, but because of political cause. “As the statute was amended lately, RJP-N leaders sought time for poll preparation. The date for  the third phase of polls is September 18,” said Sharma.

Minister Sharma said the government had taken Bajura, Sankhuwasabha and Kapilvastu incidents seriously and had started investigation. One person each was killed in Bajura and Sankhuwasabha incident while 10 persons sustained injuries when a bomb exploded in Kapilvastu on the same day. “Nepal Police has started investigating the incidents and the government will take stern action against the guilty,” said Sharma.

Minister Sharma pledged that he would announce special policies for internal cleansing of the security force soon after local level elections were over.

Sharma also inaugurated Province 7 security symposium today and directed the security chiefs to beef up security situation in view of the civic polls and urged them to be more responsible in ensuring the polls were held in a peaceful, fair and fearless manner.