By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 28: On the occasion of the 13th Republic Day, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called on the citizens of the country to remember the forefathers who made invaluable contributions towards maintaining territorial integrity of our nation and strengthening our nationality.
Stating that Nepal had always been an independent nation, President Bhandari called on the people to be inspired by our ancestors’ self-esteem, bravery and ideals and take charge of the nation’s all-round development.
Issuing a message, she expressed her confidence that this historic day would motivate all Nepalis to come together and build a socially, economically and culturally civilized and prosperous society by sustainably utilising the natural resources available to us through the means of a federal democratic republican system of governance.
Furthermore, the president congratulated all Nepali sisters and brothers living at home and abroad on this momentous day and wished for their happiness, peace and prosperity.
Likewise, in his Republic Day message Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest challenges that the country had faced until now.
PM Oli said, "Currently, we all are focused on the challenging battle against COVID-19 pandemic. I wish for speedy recovery of those who've been infected with the virus. Also, I wish everyone to remain safe from virus infection and hope that we get back to normalcy soon."
"From the achievements of the government after the proclamation of Nepal as a republic, we believe that we have been able to restore and expedite the pace of development, prosperity and national pride which had been slowed and weakened by the governance system that existed before," he said.
The PM said that the government had been able to put forth an identity of Nepal as a developed nation before the world, through the establishment of republic form of government.
Stating that republicanism in Nepal was the greatest achievement of all the democratic movements, the PM said, "This landmark political change will last only if it could be connected with all aspects of social lives to form an improved development system."
We've been moving forward by balancing aspects of democracy: social justice, good governance and prosperity in order to make the democratic republican regime stronger, said the PM.
Stating that the nation's sovereignty had reached to new heights with the establishment of republican system of the governance where the citizens chose their own road to development, PM Oli said, "Nepal has been moving forward with a stronger image of a sovereign, independent, democratic, peace loving nation in the world stage."
He said that the republican system was all about operation of government according to people's will.
He added that republic wasn’t just a governance system, it is rather a method of living life with new civility and culture.
Highlighting that the current governance system was based upon social justice and equality, PM Oli said that discrimination in any form, be it gender-based, caste-based, class-based, among others, was intolerable and unacceptable.
"Republican governance is all about healthy debate of ideologies, disciplined discussions between beliefs and unhindered expression of disagreement. Hate and division have no place in our government," PM Oli said. He added that lawful balance between rights and duties would make the republican system successful.
"We were focused on concluding the peace process, implementation of new Constitution and end of crisis period during the first 12 years of establishment of republic Nepal," said the PM. "During this period, the nation has made some notable achievements."
Republic Day is celebrated every year on the Nepali date of Jestha 15 to mark the day on which the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a republic 12 years ago.