The 55th National Democracy Day is being observed throughout the Kingdom on Friday.

The 7th of Falgun every year is observed as the National Democracy Day in Nepal. On this day in 2007 BS, the 104-year-long authoritarian Rana rule had come to an end, and the state power was transferred to the people and the King.

Various programmes are being held to mark the Democracy Day across the country, reports reaching the capital from across the country said.

His Majesty King Gyanendra has delivered a message marking the National Democracy Day today. In the message, the King has said that it is the duty of all those who have faith in democracy, including every individual and political party along with members of the intelligentsia and civil society, to ensure a vibrant multiparty democracy through the conduct of impartial elections in an environment of peace and security.

Saying good policies lead to good governance and good governance makes democracy viable, the King has asked all to be devoted to the welfare of the nation and people. “Terrorist activities, coupled with politics far removed from the common man, gave a fillip to instability in the nation, putting democracy at risk”, the King said in the message, according to a state-run news agency, the RSS.

Meanwhile, a total of 150 inmates from prisons across the country were freed on the occasion of the National Democracy Day on Friday.The inmates were freed after pardoning their remaining terms in accordance with the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990, RSS said quoting the Department of Prison Management.

nepalnews.com pd Feb 18 05