BIRATNAGAR, Jan.1: Minister for Home, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said that it has been a tradition of the Nepalese monarchs to address public meetings during Royal visits in the country.
“It is not unusual for the Monarch to address a public gathering” Minister Thapa told The Rising Nepal today. There are many examples of the King addressing the people during such visits, he added. He further said that it is a tradition worldwide for the King to go to the people to share their concerns. “I do not understand why the political parties are protesting against the civic honour?” questioned Thapa.
He said that His Majesty the King would grant audience to the people collectively. The government has arranged for the security of the people during the civic reception of Their Majesties, he said. So, there is no reason why security matters will affect the public participation in the event, he said. All people want to make the event a grand success. He also informed security forces would patrol the highway up to Janakpur. “If it is found necessary, security personnel will escort people while they come here,” he said, The government has also made provisions for primary treatment of the people, and manage beds in hospitals, informed Thapa.
He said that when he came here to acquire information about the people’s participation, he found them very enthusiastic. “People are enthusiastically involved in the preparation of the civic reception. People from Itahari, Inurwa, Janakpur, Sarlahi, Kathmandu and the eastern hills are ready to come here to see the auspicious programme,” the Home Minister said.He also informed that they had completed more than 90 per cent of the preparations.Meanwhile, Minister Thapa has said that elaborate and extensive security arrangements have been made for the civic reception and felicitation programme in honour of Their Majesties on behalf of the people of the Eastern Region scheduled for Jan. 3 in Biratnagar.
He said the preparations for the event are going on enthusiastically and he found the people are so keen that they are desperately looking forward to the event. Talking to mediapersons here today, he said there would be overwhelming participation from the people in the function due to the beefed up security measures. Also today, giving directives to the concerned officials at a meeting on security organised with the objective of giving out information regarding the security situation in connection with the civic reception and felicitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen here on Jan. 3, the Home Minister directed them to further consolidate the security arrangements.
On the occasion, Chief District Officer Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sarada Prasad Parajuli and the regional chiefs of the Royal Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force briefed Home Minister Thapa on the security situation. Meanwhile, RSS adds from Biratnagar, Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa took stock of the preparations of the felicitation of Their Majesties on January 3.
The distinguished persons from Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Udayapur will be given the badges on 17, those of Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Terathum, Dhankuta, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Khotang on 18 and of Morang on both days.
Meanwhile, the local cable network has been launching news on felicitation for 45 minutes each in the morning and evening, co-ordinator of the publicity sub committee Dinesh Subedi informed. The programme can be viewed at 8:30 in the morning and evening in the Eastern Region. Meanwhile, in Itahari, Home Minister Thapa has said that the Institution of the Crown, the symbol of Nepalese faith and unity, should be viewed from a wider and more extensive perspective. Home Minister Thapa is in Sunsari in connection with acquiring information on the final preparations going on for the civic reception to be accorded Their Majesties the King and Queen on Jan. 3 in Biratnagar on behalf of the people of the Eastern Development Region.
He said those harbouring a narrow mindset about the Institution of the Crown would have to repent. Stating that the so-called Mechi-Koshi bandh or Mechi and Koshi zonal level closure called by the Maoists would not have any impact on Their Majesties’ civic felicitation programme, he said it is the responsibility of the people of the Eastern Region to make the general strike unsuccessful. Security has been beefed up and made very dynamic, he said, adding that the Home Ministry has made arrangements for posting security personnel every kilometre so that the people would be able to move freely.
On the occasion, former minister Dil Bahadur Shrestha, chief district officer Sthaneshwar Devkota and office-bearers of the local management committee Ram Kumar Subba, Ramesh Shrestha, Keshab Sitaula, Krishna Khanal and Khagendra Shrestha apprised Home Minister Thapa of the security arrangements and the management aspects.
It is said that apart from the vehicles regularly plying to Biratnagar, arrangements have been made for an additional 50 buses and 50 trucks for the event.