National Democracy Day being observed

Kathmandu / Feb 18: The 67th National Democracy Day is being marked across the country on Saturday by organizing several program in commemoration of the establishment of democracy on 7 Falgun 2007.

The people had waged struggle and sacrificed their lives against the 104-year-old Rana oligarchy which was later compelled to declare democracy in the country bowing down to the historic people’s movement.

Nepal ushered into the democratic regime with the formation of a government comprising representatives of the Nepali Congress and the Ranas following the proclamation of then King Tribhuvan in favour of democracy.

In course of the struggle for democracy, Shukraraj Shastri, Dasharath Chand, Dharmabhakta Mathema and Ganga Lal Shrestha had laid down their lives. The four were executed by the then Rana rulers on the charge of running public campaigns for democracy by establishing a political party, Praja Parishad.

The armed struggle spearheaded by founder leader of Nepali Congress, BP Koirala, had established democracy in the country on 7 Falgun 2007 BS. The struggle for democracy took a different turn when the Nepal Democratic Congress and Nepal National Congress merged into the Nepali Congress in 2006 BS for the cause.

In commemoration of the historical day, the government has been observing the Democracy Day (Falgun 7) by organizing special public programme at Tundikhel in the capital every year. The government has also declared Falgun 7 a public holiday.