People's Movement Day being marked today

Kathmandu, April 8: The Jana Aandolan Diwas (People's Movement Day) is being observed today by organizing various programmes. The Jana Aandolan Diwas commemorates the day when democracy was restored in the country.    

Democracy was reinstated on April 8, 1990, ending the 30-year-old party-less Panchayat system of governance. This was the day that marked the end of the Panchayat system which was established by King Mahendra on December 15, 1960.    

The Nepali Congress and the United Left Front had jointly launched a movement to end the Panchayat system under the former's leadership. This movement culminated in the overthrow of the party-less system paving way for a multi-party democracy in the country.    

The People's Movement under the commandership of Nepali Congress leader Ganesh Man Singh lasted for 50 days. The movement against the Panchayat system was launched on February 18, 1990, coinciding with the 39th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in the country with the abolition of the 103 years of autocratic rule by the Ranas.    

On April 8, 1990, the then King Birendra, in an address to the nation, announced the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal. Subsequently, the ban on political parties was lifted, and multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy reinstated. (RSS)