Political leaders of five opposition parties along with member of the civic society in a mass meeting organized by Citizen’s Movement for Peace and Democracy at New Baneshwor, Friday, Aug 05 05. nepalnews.com/rh

Thousands of people took part in a peaceful pro-democracy mass meeting organized by Citizen’s Movement for Peace and Democracy at New Baneshwor, Friday.

Urging the King to give up his direct rule, representatives of the civil society addressed the mass meeting. They also urged immediate return to democracy and civil rights.

“The forthcoming pro-democracy protests must be a peaceful but decisive,” senior journalist of Himal South Asian, Kanak Mani Dixit, said. He demanded that the King handover the executive power confiscated on February 1 back to the people.

Meanwhile, a noted rights activists, Krishna Pahadi, said since the monarchy has had repeatedly betrayed democracy in Nepal, the upcoming movement must head towards a democratic republican set up.

Top leaders of the opposition political parties including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal also participated in the mass meeting entitled ‘Citizens’ Mass Meeting for Democracy and Peace’.

Poets recited pro-democracy poems while artists presented pro-democracy songs and music urging for restoration of democracy and peace. Journalists associated to various FM radio stations also read out news during the program.

Thousands of people, including women and children, braved the monsoon showers enthusiastically to attend the peaceful program.