Their Majesties grace reception

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced a reception hosted by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on the occasion of Shree Panch Tribhuvan Jayanti and the 51st National Democracy Day at Sheetal Niwas today.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev attended the reception.

His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah, His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah and Her Royal Highness Princess Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah also attended the reception.

Their Majesties the King and Queen granted audience to the heads of the diplomatic missions present on the occasion.

Also present at the reception were the heads of constitutional bodies, ex-prime ministers, the Speaker, the National Assembly chairman, ministers, various political party leaders, high ranking government officers and other dignitaries.

Democracy Day function in Delhi, Dhaka

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi organised a special function at the embassy to mark the 51st National Democracy Day today.

At the function, Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, representatives of Bharat Nepal Maitri Sangh, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, Nepalese organisations and other distinguished persons laid garlands at the portrait of His late Majesty King Tribhuvan.

Speaking on the occasion, Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Thapa said democracy in Nepal has a special significance since it was established jointly by the King and the people, he observed.

A lost of other speakers also expressed their views.

Embassy staff eminent Nepalese nationals working in the UN and other agencies in India, representatives of Bharat Nepal Maitri Sangh, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation and various Nepalese organisations, students and a large number of Nepalese people living in New Delhi were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, on the ocasion of the 51st National Democracy Day, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Madhu Raman Acharya organised a programme at the embassy today.

Nepalese nationals working in UN and other international organisations in Dhaka, Nepalese nationals living in Dhaka, Nepalese students studying in Dhaka, embassy officials and their family members were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Acharya highlighted the importance of democracy in nation building and good governance.

On the occasion Dr. R. N. Mallik, a senior Nepalese expartriate in Dhaka spoke on the importance of democracy.

Councellor Arun Prasad Dhital had welcomed the guests.

Earlier Ambassador Acharya, Mrs Geeta Acharya, embassy officials and family members and guest had garlanded the portrait of His late Majesty King Tribhuvan.

Personalities honoured

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): Minister of State for Information and Communications Puskarnath Ojha honoured five talented personalities making important contributions to various sectors of national life with the "Third Simple Honour-2057" on the occasion of the 51st National Democracy Day today.

Those honoured at the programme organised by the Simple Arts of New Baneshwar are actor and cine-director Ashok Sharma, movie actor Rabi Giri, lyricist Pushpalata Acharya, emerging vocalist Pushkar Jangam and accomplished pilot L. B. Nepali.

On the occasion, Minister of State Ojha said that personalities contributing to the promotion of Nepali art and culture should be honoured and assisted from all the levels of the society.

Appreciating the honour which the institution has been bestowing on various talented persons since the last three years, the Minister of State for Information and Communications expressed the hope that this kind of spirit will be continued in future also.

At the programme, Mr Ojha also gave away certificates to 30 persons who volunteered for the blood donation programme organised by the institute.

Former minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya expressed the view that these kinds of awards play an important role in encouraging and developing the personality of the emerging talents in the country.

Film director Ashok Sharma, who was one of those honoured at the programme, said the government and the non-government sectors have been providing assistance for the development of the film industry in the country.

He also pointed out the need for enhancing the quality of the Nepalese films.

Sharada Neupane and Saroj Dhakal of the Simple Arts, litterateur Lava Gaunle and various personalities including film actor Giri, lyricist Acharya, vocalist Jangam and pilot Nepali who were honoured at the programme also expressed their views on the occasion.

Advisor of the Simple Arts B. D. Tyagi presided over the programme.

Poet Bhupi’s statue to be installed

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): Kathmandu metropolis-1 and Literary Journalists Association have decided to install the statue of poet Bhupi Sherchan at Nandi Keshar Fulbari.

President of the Literary Journalists Association Narendra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of Kathmandu metropolis-1 Yogendra Kumar Shrestha and Association General Secretary Radheshyam Lekali are convenor, co-convenor and member-secretary of the committee constituted to install the statue of poet Bhupi Sherchan.

Other members of the committee are Mrs Kanti Sherchan, member of the Rajparishad Mrs Rina Tulachan, poetess Usha Bhattachan, president of the Thakali Sewa Samiti and Japan-Nepal Liaison Committee Khagendra Bhattachan, representative of the International Nepal Literary Society, Boston Khem Bhattachan, members of Kathmandu metropolis-1 Bharatlal Shrestha and Ashok Kumar Bada, and president of the Naxal Yuva Mandal Nabin Tandukar.

Meanwhile the road from Naxal Nandi School-Nepal Police Headquarters and Naxal telephone exchange has been named Bhupi Marg.

Five children die of viral flu in Humla

Humla, Feb. 18 (RSS): Five children have died of gastroenteritis and viral influenza in Syunda, Srimastha, Thihe, Bhelchham, Simikot and Kalika village development committees of Humla district.

The victims of the disease are mostly children of the 2-6 year age group.

Similarly, symptoms of diseases like conjunctivitis, throat pain and measles have been reported from other VDCs of the district.

There has been some difficulty in providing treatment to the people affected by the disease since most posts of technicians and physicians lie vacant in many of the health posts and health centres in the district.

A team of physicians and paramedics along with necessary medicines will be dispatched to the affected areas since the medicines have been received from the regional medical store, Nepalgunj.

Left parties demand dissolution of armed police force

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): A meeting of the Nine Communists Group chaired by president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Narayanman Bijukchhe today demanded dissolution of the armed police force, withdrawal of the Local Administration Act amendment ordinance, and political resolution of the Maoists problem.

Stating that the Prime Minister should resign for not being able to maintain law and order, provide good governance and check corruption in the country, the meeting also reiterated its demand for withdrawal of the citizenship bill passed by the parliament.

Expressing deep sorrow over the demise of thousands of people including some Nepalese in the devastating earthquake in Gujrat of India and the huge loss of property, the meeting also demanded investigation into the death of 17 Nepalese workers due to electric short circuit in Tehari, Garhwal of India, and the fire that took the lives of 17 people at a fair in Nawalparasi.

Also issuing a statement here today, the Group of Nine Communist Parties has condemned the attack by American and British war planes on Iraq and has demanded immediate withdrawal of the American and British troops from the Gulf.

‘Terrorism can never be alternative to democracy’

Damauli, Feb. 18 (RSS): Minister for Local Development Govinda Raj Joshi has spoken of the need for one and all to work in such a manner as to help the dreams of the martyrs come true.

At a programme organised on the occasion of the 51st National Democracy Day here today, he said that terrorism can never be an alternative to democracy neither can it resolve the problems of the country.

Mr Joshi said that the leftists and the rightists are hatching a conspiracy to create instability and weaken democracy.

As the decision of parliament is the decision of the people in a parliamentary system, no one could prevent anyone to put forth his views in parliament in line with the provisions enshrined in the constitution.

Minister Joshi released a civic charter published by the Employees Reunion Centre, Tanahu and gave away Bhashu Award and cash prizes to students of Notredam Boarding School, Bandipur and Barahi Boarding School Damauli for securing the highest marks in the S.L.C. examinations in 2056 from Tanahu district.

Acting mayor of Byas Municipality Moti Kumar Shrestha, Raghunath Paudel of the Nepali Congress, Narendra Raj Paudel, Ravi Narayan Khanal of the CPN (ML) and a host of other speakers expressed their views on the occasion.

Kamaiyas given free health service

Dhangadhi, Feb. 18 (RSS): The Kamaiya Movement Mobilisation Committee, compassion Ministry network and the Landless Squatters Uplift Society, Kailali jointly organised free health camps at various Kamaiya rehabilitation camps in Kailali district recently.

Some 2087 women and 958 men benefited from the week-long free health service camp set up at the Kamaiya rehabilitation camps in Dhangadhi, Geta, Malakheti, Dwaidare, Mahadeva and Rabal Chaur of Kailali district, according to the organisers.

A nine-member team of physicians from the International Nepal Foundation (INF) provided free check-up services at the health camps.

Similarly, rice and dal worth Rs 102,396, porridge worth Rs 46,500 and clothing worth Rs 27,867 was also distributed to the needy Kamaiyas at the camp who were found to be suffering from malnourishment.

Medicines worth Rs 145,949 was distributed to the patients at the health camp.