Govt committed to creating an environment conducive for upcoming election: PM Karki

Bhaktapur, Oct 22: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has asserted that the government is committed to conducting the upcoming House of Representatives election in a free and fair manner.

Addressing the ceremony of garlanding the statue of Shankhadhar Sakhwa and honouring the national luminary organised by the National Luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa Foundation, Madhyapur Thimi here today, PM Karki expressed her confidence that all political parties and all sectors of society would provide support and cooperation to the government in conducting a free and fair election.

"It is well known that the government was tasked with holding the House of Representatives elections on March 5 2026. The government has the responsibility to serve the Nepali people by addressing the legitimate voices of the Gen-Z in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal. The government is committed to creating an environment where the Nepali people can exercise their voting rights without fear in order to strengthen democracy, achieve economic prosperity, and protect citizens' rights," she said on the occasion.

The PM expressed extreme sadness over the loss of young lives and injuries to hundreds of people during the movement led by Gen-Z on the 8th and 9th of September against rampant corruption in the country.

She expressed commitment that the process of indicating the Nepal Sambat on the notes issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank will be taken forward after consulting the relevant parties.

Prime Minister Karki stated that the government's decision to mention the Nepal Sambat in official documents clearly shows that the government is keen to promote, foster and practically implement this calendar. She instructed the relevant ministries to effectively implement the Nepal Sambat in government offices and also mentioned cooperating with the Foundation for monitoring the implementation of the Nepal Sambat calendar.

She expressed that the Nepal Sambat, which was started in the year 936 in recognition of Shankhadhar Sakhwa's unparalleled contribution to society and the country, as well as his great work for social justice, did not originate from the decree of a king or marking a victory in a war, but rather arose from the public level based on the sacrifice and philanthropy of a trader, making it a calendar of high importance and carrying with it the legacy of public welfare.

Highlighting the need to follow the path shown by Shankhadhar Sakhwa to eliminate poverty and inequality in Nepali society and raise the economic status of the people, Prime Minister Karki stated that only by prioritising national interest over individual and party interests, as Shankhadhar Sakhwa did, can our national aspirations be fulfilled.

At the programme, she garlanded the statue of Sakhwa and also launched the bulletin published by the Foundation.

PM Karki also on the occasion honoured the cultural scholar Chhatra Bahadur Kayastha and Nepah Pasa Pucha, USA with the Shankhadhar Sirapa award.

The chairman of the Foundation, Gyanram Shrestha, the Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Surendra Shrestha, and former chairmen of the Foundation, Shyam Krishna Manandhar and Madan Krishna Shrestha, among others, emphasised that more study and research should be carried out on Shankhadhar Sakhwa, and the Nepal Sambat should be fully implemented. (RSS)