Vice President Pun alerts political parties on poll deadline

Kathmandu / Jan 14: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun on Saturday urged political parties to move ahead with the three levels of elections bearing in mind the scenario and deadline (12 months remaining) for the polls.

Addressing a programme organised by the Nepal Magar Association to exchange greetings on the occasion of Maghesankranti in the Capital, Vice President Pun also drew the attention of political parties to conclude the constitution implementation by addressing problems surfaced in the process.

“Magar community has shown and contributed a high level of bravery in various political movements, be it for the unification of modern Nepal or for political change. The present constitution of the country and political system has ensured proportional and inclusive representation of all communities,” he said.

Referring to Maghesankranti as Nepali’s biggest festival of harmony, fraternity, tolerance and mutual unity, Vice President Pun wished that this festival may help bring prosperity and happiness on the face of all Nepali people.

The Vice President inaugurated the programme by tying strips of cloth, shooting an arrow using a bow and worshipping girls as per the Magar tradition.

Addressing the programme, President of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Jagat Bahadur Baram said that the government should give due attention for the protection of the rights, culture and customs of the indigenous nationalities.

President of the organizing body Nabin Rokka Magar spoke of the need of adopting the proportional and inclusive principles for the restructuring of the state in consonance with the structure of the society.

The programme also featured the unique Magar dishes and costume as well as the ‘kaura’ and ‘saleju’ songs and dances.

The Magars, who are found settled in a majority of the hill districts, have dense population in Gandaki, Dhawalagiri and Rapti zones. The community has made special contribution for the success of the unification campaign as well as the Maoist people’s movement.

Lakhan Thapa, who is also from the Magar community, is considered Nepal’s first martyr and the Magars have the largest population among the indigenous nationalities’ population. RSS