‘Lord Buddha’s messages still relevant’

Kathmandu, Jan. 16 (RSS): Gopal Krishna Acharya, Suresh Shivakoti and Dev Bhakta Panta, who stood first, second and third respectively in a national level essay contest on "Peace Zone Nepal and the Present Situation of the Country" organised by the Samaj Darpan Council on the occasion of the 56th Auspicious Birthday of His Majesty the King, were given prizes and certificates here today.

Raj Parishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, speaking on the occasion, said that the message of peace and non-violence propagated by Lord Buddha is equally relevant for mankind even today.

On the same occasion, Dr. Rayamajhi released the first special issue of the monthly publication "Samaj Darpan" brought out by the council to mark the auspicious birthday.

People want radical change, says Gautam

Pokhara, Jan. 16 (RSS): CPN-ML general secretary Bamdev Gautam has said that the in-party squabbles and struggle among different political parties that the country is seeing today are a manifestation of the people’s desire for radical change that will relieve them of the existing suppression and exploitation.

CPN-ML general secretary Gautam, who was inaugurating a three-day national gathering of the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) here today, said the CPN-ML always supports any movement against the commercialization of education.

He also warned that the gap between the standards of education between public and profit-oriented private schools is likely to bring about a division in the country’s educated community also.

As state power cannot be taken over without the people’s support, the people should be encouraged to participate in political movements, but such movements should be peaceful, he said.

CPN-ML politburo member C.P. Mainali said rampant corruption, various anomalies and aberrations and the anti-people activities that the country has seen in the past 10 years since the restoration of democracy have given rise to disenchantment and anger among the people.

Trilochan Dhakal, also a CPN-ML politburo member, ruled out the viability of a long-running people’s war as envisioned by the Maoists.

CPN-ML central member Riji Kattel, district committee secretary Ram Raj Regmi, ex-ANNFSU presidents Rup Narayan Shrestha and Yogesh Bhattarai and programme coordinator sudhir poudel also expressed their views.

The national gathering has brought together members of the ANNFSU central, zonal and district committees and the national council.