Kathmandu, Sept 19: One year has passed since the promulgation of the constitution of a Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The country marks the first anniversary of the constitution’s promulgation through the Constituent Assembly today, meeting people’s aspirations for long.
The government is marking this special day as a national festival by organising various programmes including a special one at the Nepal Army pavilion today. The President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, deputy prime ministers, minister, government high-ranking officials, chiefs of the diplomatic mission here, business community, civil society representatives and media persons have been invited to attend the special function.
The government has formed a special committee under the chair of the Prime Minister to celebrate the Day and announced a public holiday on this occasion.
The existing Nepal’s constitution , the seventh in the documented version, is the first constitution drafted by the people’s representatives.
Nepal switched to a federal democratic system from a unitary system with the promulgation of the existing constitution. Republic, federalism, secularism, proportional inclusion and social justice remain as its salient features. The first amendment to this historic constitution had already been carried out to address the voices of indigenous nationalities and the Madhesi community.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari reached the Constituent Assembly (CA) Building at New Baneshwar on Sunday and attended a special celebration marking the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Nepal Constitution.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Chief Justice Sushila Karki also marked their presence at the event organized by Speaker of House Onsari Gharti.
The Head of the State, the Prime Minister and the CJ were welcomed by Speaker Gharti to the Building decked with flags and festoons.
The new national statute named ‘Nepal Constitution-2072, featuring 35 parts, 308 articles and
nine schedules, was promulgated by the then President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on September 20, 2015 through the Constituent Assembly.
Also present at today’s programme were Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, former Prime Ministers, Chairpersons of the constitutional committees, heads of constitutional and security bodies and representatives of the diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, among others.
The security arrangement inside and surrounding the CA Building was strengthened in view of the security of the VVIPs attending the event.
Meanwhile, Speaker Onsari Gharti has stated that new constitution, featuring democracy, federalism, secularism, proportional representation, inclusiveness and social justice, has reinforced the identity of Nepal as a country embracing participatory democracy.
Addressing a special ceremony organized at the Constituent Assembly (CA Building) at New Baneshwor on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Nepal Constitution, Speaker Gharti stressed on the unity among the political parties for the effective implementation of the national charter.
She expressed her confidence that the effective implementation and evolution of the new constitution would help Nepalis realise their dreams for development and prosperity.
Furthermore, Speaker Gharti was hopeful to see the tabling of new bills and laws required to bring into effect the new national statute.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to grant pardon to 887 inmates from various prisons across the country on the occasion of the Constitution Day.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday made the decision to this effect, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Krishna Bahadur Mahara. The name of those prisoners would be made public on Monday, he added.
The meeting also decided to promote Joint-Secretary of the Home Ministry, Binod KC, to the post of Secretary and Joint-Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Krishna Devkota, to Acting Secretary.
An agreement was reached in principle to run the government industries in public private partnership, to run the Nepal Drugs Limited by the government itself, added DPM Mahara.
DPM Mahara said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal shed light on the achievements of his State visit to India at the meeting of Council of Ministers.
According to DPM Mahara, PM Dahal believed that his visit was successful in enabling environment for mutual trust between Nepal and India and winning over the confidence of the India’s public.
The PM was also learnt to brief about the high level meetings held during his stay in India, including with Indian President, Prime Minister, leaders as well as intellectuals and business community.
