Loktantra day being celebrated

Remembering the popular uprising of last April, the first Loktantra (democracy) day is being celebrated throughout the country with festivities for three days starting Monday.

On the occasion, Kathmandu Metropolitan city is organising a clean-up campaign today. Radio Nepal is hosting a folk song competition with 'democracy theme'. In the evening, major locations of the Valley will be decorated with lights.

On Tuesday, the health ministry is organising a free health camp for children and old people in orphanages and old-age homes. Radio Nepal, Nepal TV and private electronic media would hold talk shows. Nepal TV would telecast a documentary on Loktantra. Nepal Army will also host programmes at Tundikhel to mark the first democracy day. The Prime minister will also give a message on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, programmes would be held to remember the martyrs and felicitate those injured during the people's movement last year.

In districts, democracy day celebration committees have been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief District Officers.

In his message on Monday, information and communication minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is the coordinator of the democracy day celebration publicity sub-committee, has appealed to all the Nepalis for their 'full cooperation in allowing the democratic republic to its destination through the election to a constituent assembly'.

Similarly, citizen activists are preparing for grand celebrations of Loktantra day on April 24 to mark the first anniversary of the success of People's Movement II.

On April 24, the civil society activists plan to take out Loktantra Day Citizen's Rally (starting from Kalanki at 12 noon) and hold an Assembly (starts from 2 pm at Basantapur Dabali).

The Assembly will be addressed by political leaders such as Madhav Kumar Nepal, Ram Chandra Poudel and Prachanda, among others.