By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Feb 21: As demanded by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the meeting of

the NC Parliamentary Party was postponed until February 26. The meeting of the NC parliamentary party that was held today (Monday) decided to postpone the meeting until February 26 to discuss the

no-trust motion registered in the party by some 58 disgruntled lawmakers of the Nepali Congress against Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Breifing the journalists about today’s meeting, Nepali Congress spokesman Narahari Acharya said that the meeting decided to find an amicable outlet of the present crisis thorugh discussion and understanding. For this, the meeting was postponed until February 26, he said.

Prime Minister had asked for the postponement of the meeting until February 26 and inform him of the charges against him by 58 lawmakers of his own party so that the Prime Minister could attend and reply on the charges against him.

Prime Minister had publicly said that he would not attend today’s (Monday) meeting because it was called without consultation with the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the parliamentary party. Now the fate of Prime Minister Bhattarai would be decided on February 26 as discussion and voting would take place on the no-trust motion against Bhattarai’s leadership.

However, consultations and discussion are under way between Prime Minister Bhattarai and party president Girija Prasad Koirala and other leaders of the Nepali Congress to abort any kind of unfortunate incident in the party.

As announced earlier, Prime Minister Bhattarai did not attend Monday’s meeting of parliamentary party.

Janakpurdham:President of Nepal Communist Party (Marxist) Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari has spoken of the need for protection of democracy which was a big achievement of the 1990 Popular Movement.

Mr. Chaudhari was inaugurating the two-day second national convention of Nepal Progressive Youth Association at Gopal Dharmasala of Janakpurdham Saturday.

Describing theSovereign people as the main source of power for governance, he said the rights of the people should be protected failing which would invite various anomalies, aberration and corruption in the country.

General secretary of Nepal Communist Party United) Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar said that democracy was still under threat and the youths had the responsibility to pacify this threat on democracy.

At the programme presided over by the convention preparatory committee convenor Sharan Bikram Malla, NCP (United ) deputy general secretary Ganesh Shaha, NCP (Marxist) general secretary Madhav Gyawali, president of Nepal Progressive Youth Association Tika Bikram Hamal, Ekraj Pandey and others also expressed their views.

Dhangadhi:Rikshaw pullers in this Far Western Terai town have been on strike since Monday pressing for an increase in transport fare after rikshaw owners announced a hike in the daily rent on rikshaws.

All cycle-rikshaw services in Dhangadhi have come to a standstill due to the strike called for by the Nepal Rikshaw Pullers Union, Dhangadhi.

The rikshaw union has also demanded a stop to autorikshaw tempo services in the town saying that these have hampered their business.

According to the union, the rent per cycle-rikshaw used to be Rs 30.It has now been increased to Rs 36. There are about 700 rikshaw-pullers in the town who eke out their livelihood through this calling.

Nuwakot:Piped drinking water is now available to the people living in ward nos. 1, 2 and 9 of Lachyang village development committee (VDC) in Nuwakot district with the completion of the Lachyang Drinking Water Project.

The Drinking Water Project, completed with Rs 1,329,900 of investment by His Majesty’s Government and voluntary labour equivalent to Rs 134,508, will benefit a population of 1513 of 248 households in the locality, according to the district water supply office, Nuwakot.

Banepa :Arniko Transport Service Committee has started a bus service from Kathmandu to Manthali, district headquarters of Ramechhap, since Tuesday last.

With the operation of the bus services, local agro-based products of this area can have easy market access, chairman of the committee Gopal Shrestha says.

Another member of the committee Muneswar Kayastha is of the view that the government has to give priority for maintenance and upgradation of the roads.

At present, some 6 vehicles are plying daily on this route.

Rangeli, Feb. 20 :Member of Parliament Amod Prasad Upadhyaya, addressinga party workers’ gathering organised by the Nepali Congress Morang district constituency-1 regional committee at local Amardaha recently, said the ideals and values of democracy should be popularised among the people according to the national need.

He said the Nepali Congress, which fought against the Rana Regime and the Panchayat System in the past to empower the people, was now having to fight against the anti-democratic elements even after the restoration of democracy.

Various speakers including Nepali Congress district member Shiva Narayan Singh, general council member Mahawat Rajbanshi, Nepal Tarun Dal district member Surendra Rayamajhi and others also addressed the meeting.

They called upon all to unite against the anti-democratic elements.

Nepali Congress Amardaha VDC committee chairman Maheshwar Prasad Rajbanshi presided at the meeting.

Meanwhile, addressing a separate gathering of party workers at govindapur VDC here on Thursday, MP Upadhyaya called upon the Nepali Congress party workers to join hands in thwarting all conspiracies being hatched to undermine democracy in the country. He said the people were feeling insecure in the face of the terrorist activities of the Maoists and all should be cautious about this.

Nepali Congress Govindapur VDCpresident Shivalal Tajpuriya presided.

Biratnagar, Feb. 20:The National Assembly vice-chairman Chiranjibi Prasad Rijal saidit is high time, we all commit ourselves to all-round national development andpreservation and the institutional development of democracy attained through the great sacrifices of the martyrs.

Vice-chairman Rijal made this remark while laying the foundation stone for the “Martyr Govindaram Agrawal Pedestrians Shed” at Ward no.7, Katahari Village in Morang district on Saturday.

The pedestrians waiting shed would be constructed by the Marwadi Sewa Samiti along the Biratnagar-Rangeli Highway, East of Katahari Bazar in memory ofmartyr Govinda Ram Agrawal who laid down his life in the 1990 people’s movement.

Vice-chairman Rijal said that he was not in favour of the kind of democracy which did not resolve the burning problems of the people and fulfilled their basic needs.

Democracy is not an exclusive prerogative of a single family or an individual but for all the people to experience, he said, adding the people were now concerned if democracy would be lost becuase of the Nepali Congress itself.

National president of Nepal Marwadi Parishad Hulas Chand Golchha stressed that some constructive work needs to be done for the people’s welfare to ensure genuine democracy in the country.

President of the Marwadi Sewa Samiti, Biratnagar, Ganga Kisan Rathi presided over the programme.

The 20x 10 feet pedestrians waiting shed is to be constructed at the cost of Rs 50,000 by April this year, according to the Marwadi Sewa Samiti, Biratnagar.

In Itahari, National Assembly vice-chairman Chiranjibi Rizal laid the foundation stone for a statue of popular leader B.P. Koirala to be installed between ward No-1 and 8 of Itahari municipality by Nepal Tarun Dal Itahari town committee here Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, vice-chairman Rizal expressed the view that Nepali Congress should direct its development policy towards the villages in order to realize the late popular leader’s dream of making the poor Nepali people prosperous.

NC Sunsari district member Medani Prasad Sitoula, NCgeneral committee member Amber Bahadur Mainali and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by Tarun Dal Itahari town committee chairman Govinda Ghimire.

Nepalgunj, Feb. 20 :Nepali Congress central member and former Minister of State Rewati Prasad Bhusal has said that the Nepali Congress launched an awareness campaign against Maoist violence and terrorism since it was a conspiratorial move to finish off democracy.

Addressing a mass meeting organised by the Nepali Congress Banke district committee to denounce Maoist violence, killings and terrorism here Saturday, Mr. Bhusal said the Nepali Congress was always ready to fight elements opposed to democracy.

Violence, terrorism and killing of innocent lives does nobody good, he added.

Central member of the Nepali Congress Women Department Mohammadi Siddiqui called upon those who have taken to violence means to give up violence and dedicate to the service of the people and the nation.

Nepal Women Association central member Uma Karki, Nepal Tarun Dal central member Hurmat Kumar Neupane, Nepal Dalit Sangh central member Lal Bahadur Bishwakama and Nepal Students’ Association central member Lokendra Bhandari called upon all to unite to fight violence and terror.

At the mass meeting presided over by Nepali Congress Banke district president Krishna Man Shrestha, Banke DDC chairman Omjung Rana, NC Banke district secretary Bishnu Prasad Sharma, former MP Krishna Prasad Upadhyaya Gautam and Bijaya Gupta also expressed their views.

In Kapilbastu,the Nepali Congress Kapilbastu district committee took out a rally in protest against the violence and terrorism in the country here Saturday.

The rally turned into a mass meeting at local Bal Mandir after going through various parts of the town.

Addressing the mass meeting, former minister of state for Finance Dip Kumar Upadhyaya said that a battle was going on in the country between those who wanted democracy and those who abhorred democracy.

He said the time has come for all the democracy-loving people to join hands in thwarting such anti-democracy elements.

Former MP Bishnu Raj Acharya called upon the Maoists to give up violence and arms and take part in the political process.

At the programme presided over by Nepali Congress district committee president Kamlesh Kumar Sharma, Nepali Congress district committee vice-president Sudhakar Pandey, Arjun Bahadur Singh Rayamajhi, Dan Bahadur Sribastav, Nepal Women Association district vice-president Mrs Sumitra Sharma and others also expressed their views.

In Janakpurdham,the Nepali Congress Dhanusha district committee held a protest mass meeting against the spate of violence, terrorism and killings perpetrated in the country in the name of Maoists at the party office here Saturday.

Earlier, a protest rally was taken out from the party office which went around the town before converging into the protest meeting.

Addressing the rally, MP Arabinda Thakur said that the so-called Maoists were unleashing a cycle of terror and violence in the country by killing innocent and unarmed people.

Various speakers including local party leaders and the district office-bearers of the sister organisations of the Nepali Congress also addressed the mass meeting denouncing Maoist violence and calling for the protection and promotion of democracy.

In Lamjung, the Nepali Congress district committee, Lamjung, organised a protest demonstration here on Saturday as per the programme of the Nepali Congress central committee.

The protest rally which started from the Nepali Congress district party office converged into a mass meeting on reaching the local Narayan Mandir premises after passing through local Bhimsensthan and manange Chautara.

Addressing the mass meeting, various district level party leaders spoke on the significance of the protest march.

In Biratnagar, Nepali Congress Morang district working committee organised a protest meet and rally against Maoist violence and terror here Saturday.

The protest rally which began from the premises of Adarsha School went through the Goswara Road, Eye Hospital, main road, Mahendra Chowk, Sani Mandir, Rangeli Road and Hospital Chowk before converging for a gathering at the school premises.

A great number of people participated in the rally carrying banners and placards, and Chanting various slogans.

Speaking on the occasion, NC central member Mrs. Nona Koirala spoke of the need to launch a movement against crime and murder, in order to make the people feel safe.

Another central member of the party Arjun Narsingh K.C. expressed concerned over the inability of the present government to work in deference to the aspirations of the people.

MP Amod Prasad Upadhaya, NepalStudents’ Union central member Gururaj Ghimire and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by NC Morang District Committee acting chairman Dilip Sapkota.

In Pokhara, Nepali Congress Kaski organised a procession and mass meeting in protest of violence, murder and terror here today.

Speaking at the mass meeting, chief whip of NC Parliamentary Party Gopalman Shrestha spoke of the need for party leaders to maintain a cordial atmosphere inside their respective parties and include their opposition parties also in the fight against terror and murder.

From the chair, MP and NC Kaski district president Sukraraj Sharma expressed gratitude to all those who helped in making the protest programme successful.

MP Prakash Bahadur Gurung urged all the workers of the party to move ahead unitedly with a high morale for the cause of democracy and peace in the country.

Biratnagar, Feb. 20:The 50th National Democracy Day main celebration committee, Morang district committee organised a function to mark the occasion at the premises of Morang DDC heres Saturday.

Various individuals speaking at the function pointed out the need to protect and promote democracy, and extended heartfelt tributes to known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy.

Hoisting the national flag on the occasion, Biratnagar sub-metropolis mayor Ramesh Chandra Poudel spoke of the need for all the Nepali people to unite for the protection of democracy.

Assistant CDO Ganga Prasad Luitel, senior litterateur Mrs. Dev Kumari Thapa, local party representatives and other speakers also shed light on the importance of democracy day.

The programme had begun with the garlanding of the portrait of Father of the Nation King Tribhuvan and presentation of a guard of honour by the Royal Nepalese Army.

Earlier a procession including the Royal Nepalese Army, police band, office-bearers of the main celebration committee, intellectuals, industrialists, businessmen, social workers, journalists and general public went round various parts of the town ending up at the premises of the DDC.

In pokhara, on the occasion of the 50th National Democracy Day, a mass meeting was organised here Saturday where heartfelt tributes were paid to known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives for restoration of democracy in the country.

On the occasion, MP Prakash Bahadur Gurung said struggle, dedication and sacrifice of the great martyrs led to the restoration of democracy in the country because of which we have been able to live as independent citizens today.

MP and NC Kaski president Sukraraj Sharma said the glory of the crown has enhanced following the restoration of democracy in the country and, that murder, violence and terror will weaken democracy.

Rajparishad Member Ganesh Bahadur Gurung,Pokhara mayor Krishna Thapa, CDO Shyam Sundar Sharma and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by National Democracy Day main celebration committee convenor and DDC chairman Punya Prasad Poudel.

Earlier, a procession went round the city before converging for a mass meeting.

In Nepalgunj,hoisting the national flag at a function organised to mark the 50th National Democracy Day here today, Chief Judge of Nepalgunj Appellate Court Arjun Prasad Singh described the multiparty democratic system as the best and peaceful system of governance.

Rajparishad member Mohammad Ikbal Iraki, Nepalgunj Mayor Dhawal Shumsher Rana, CDO Shyam Prasad Mainali and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by Banke DDC chairman Omjung Rana.

Earlier, a grand procession with musical band went round the town and offered floral tributes at the statue of King Tribhuvan at local Tribhuvan Chowk.

A minute’s silence was also observed in memory of the martyrs while the Royal Nepalese Army presented a guard of honour.

Likewise, a function was organised at the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Saudi Arabia Saturday on the occasion of the 50th National Democracy Day.

According to the Royal Nepalese Embassy report from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the occasion Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Badri Prasad Khanalshed light on the importance of the National Democracy Day and urged to renew our pledge to uphold the democratic values and principles for which so many patriots have sacrificed their lives.

Second secretary of the embassy Mr. Tirtha Raj Wagle, attaché at the Embassy Hari Prasad Aryal also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the National Democracy Day.

Mr. Dipak Thapa read out a poem on the occasion on behalf of the Nepalese nationals attending the function.

Likewise, Royal Nepalese Consular General Shankar Prasad Pandey held a reception at the Royal Nepalese Consulate in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China on Saturday on the occasion of the 50th National Democracy Day.

Chairman of the Tibetan People’s Government Lech Chok was the chief guest of the function.

Vice-chairman of Tibet Regional People’s Congress Mr. Quejia, vice-chairman of the People’s Political Consultative conference of Tibet Mr. Chen Hai Chang and Deputy Political Commissioner of the People’s Liberation Army in Tibet autonomous region Mr. Duojia were also present on the occasion.

Kathmandu, Feb. 20 :Minister of State for Education Rajendra Kharel felicitated various distinguished persons making significant contribution to various sectors of society at a function here Saturday.

Those felicitated at the function organized by Simple Arts on the occasion of the 50th National Democracy Day, were film directorPrakash Thapa, musician Shakti Ballav, actress Sushila Rayamajhi, singer Rachana G.C and headmaster Gopal Prasad Baskota.

At the function, Minister of State Kharel said it is the duty of all citizens to respect the distinguished persons making significant contribution to the country and society.

All honest politicians should give serious thought to doing away with the existing political anomalies and aberrations.

Deputy mayor of Kathmandu Bidur Mainali stressed the need for one and all to contribute from their respective quarters to the all round development of the country.

General secretary of Simple Arts Nibandha Acharya and others also expressed their views at the function.

Bidhi Tyagi presided.