KATHMANDU, April 24: The 20th Loktantra Diwas is being marked across the country today by organizing several programmes, including offering tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in democratic struggles.
The Loktantra Diwas has been observed in commemoration of the historic event when the direct rule and autocratic regime of then King Gyanendra Shah came to an end after the reinstatement of dissolved parliament in 2063 BS following the 19-day-long People's Movement.
It may be noted that the autocratic regime was abolished on 24 April 2006 AD (11 Baishakh 2063 BS) while the parliament that was dissolved on 22 May 2002 AD (8 Jestha 2059 BS) was reinstated.
Nation marks 19th Loktantra Diwas today
On the day, former King Shah's proclamation noted, "The House of Representatives (HoR) has been reinstated in accordance with the public sentiment expressed through the present people's movement, keeping in mind the fact that the source of state power rests on the Nepali people and the sovereignty and state power of Nepal lies with the Nepali people".
A meeting of the HoR was convened on 28 April 2006 AD on the strength of the People's Movement with the participation of seven political parties agitating against autocracy and the then rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was proclaimed in 2015 by the Constituent Assembly through epochal Constituent Assembly elections.
Accordingly, the country is now in the practice of federalism after holding three elections at the federal, and two in provincial and local levels.
