“It is clear that the prevailing situation compelled us to take the February 1, 2005 step in accordance with the people's aspiration to reactivate the elected bodies..”
King Gyanendra, in his message to the countrymen on the occasion of 57 th Democracy Day.
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“The message was not authorized by the government.”
Khadga Prasad Oli, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, responding to the King’s message.
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“Parties should declare republic right away to pre-empt conspiracies by reactionaries.”
Prachanda, Maoist chairman, talking to journalists in Biratnagar.
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“Due to the ineffectiveness of the seven parties and the Maoists, the King could pluck the courage to trample the martyrs of people’s movement and the feelings of people.”
Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, leader of the Civil Society for Peace and Democracy, in a statement issued to denounce the King’s message.
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“The government is not serious to pay heed to our demands.”
Upendra Yadav, president of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), saying that his organization would re-launch agitation in Madhes since the government did not remove Home Minister to create environment for talks, at a press meet.
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“What kind of people are they who do not allow (to dump garbage) despite repeated pledges to fulfill their demands? There is rule of law, how can the government fulfill the demands immediately after it pledges to do so?”
Rajendra Pandey, Minister for Local Development, in Nepal Samacharpatra.
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“How much should I shout? If I say anything in the public, they (other leaders of eight parties) complain that I speak out too much. And if I put my views before them, they don’t listen. I am distressed.”
Madhav Kumar Nepal , general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), complaining about the manner in which eight parties are functioning, in Kantipur.
Transition:
ANNOUNCED: A series of protest programs by Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). According to MJF, they will hold peaceful protests between February 18-25. Between February 26-March 5, the MJF will impose Terai bandh and blockade custom points. After March 6, the MJF will impose indefinite general strike in Terai.
LEFT: Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, for Mumbai , India to take part in SAARC Business Leaders’ Conclave.
FORMED: A four-member talks team, by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh), to initiate dialogue with the government. The team is led by Jhabbar Shah (Saptari) and includes Bibas Bidrohi (Saptari), Binod Sada Bidrohi (Siraha), Sakhi Chandra Yadav Tulsi (Mahottari) and Hridaya Narayan Chaudhary (Sarlahi).
The 17-member executive committee of the Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA), by the association’s annual meeting. Prof. Dr. Gobinda Raj Bhattarai has been reelected as the president of NELTA.
PARDONED: 197 inmates languishing in various prisons across the country who have completed fifty percent of their sentences and who have good character, by the government, on the occasion of 57 th Democracy Day.
BEREAVED: Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, of his father-in-law Colonel Kapur who passed away at the age of 85 years, in Kathmandu . Colonel Kapur was staying with his daughter and son-in-law.
CONSTITUTED: A three-member team, to probe the incident of stone-pelting at the King’s motorcade on Friday (Feb 16) on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, by the Home Ministry. The team is led by Pratap Kumar Pathak, joint secretary at the Home Ministry, and including members Deputy Inspector General of police Rabi Shrestha and Basanta Kumar Rai, senior superintendent at National Investigation Department. The team will have to present its report within a week.
