Ram Chandra Paudel
Today marks the completion of nine years of the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, which institutionalized the gains made through the repeated struggles and sacrifices made by Nepali people to write a constitution for themselves through their elected representatives. At this moment of pride, first and foremost, I would like to pay my heartfelt tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of the democratic republic form of government inNepal.
I also wish to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the democratic warriors who endured various hardships including imprisonment, torture, and exile during the democratic movement, and remained steadfast in their commitment to change. Likewise, on this occasion, I would like to respectfully remember the senior leaders of the democratic movement.
The privilege and opportunity to be part of writing our own constitution is a rare opportunity which citizens of only a few countries have received. On this special day, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Nepali sisters and brothers living inside the country and abroad for making such glorious history.
The current constitution has not only ended all forms of discrimination and inequality inherent in an autocratic and centralized state system but has, in essence, made the Nepali people sovereign. Nepali people have now become the source of state power.
This constitution has granted us with democracy. We have achieved the unprecedented level of freedom and respect in our entire history. This Constitution has provisioned federal state structures, created powerful local bodies and decentralized the central authorities to local levels. The federal system we have received in place of a unitary and centralized system comes as a significant gift of the constitution.
This constitution has given us the opportunity to build an inclusive Nepal based on pluralism.
With the election of representatives through democratic processes, the three tiers of government are now functional as per the constitution, and through the government, we are embarking on a journey towards a new future. These are the significant achievements provided by the constitution. I am of the view that our journey towards a prosperous future has begun on the foundation of these achievements. This journey should primarily be a glorious one, filled with new hopes, expectations, and beliefs for fulfilling the dreams for change aspired by Nepali citizens. Therefore, we must realize that this is a significant responsibility for our generation to shoulder. Let us today, resolutely commit ourselves to move ahead to fulfill this responsibility by setting a clear goal.
This is the time for nation-building. For this, we have many tasks and responsibilities to carry out. To fulfill these responsibilities, we must first protect the democratic republic form of government and set periodic and long-term goals for the country. These goals should become the shared goals of all Nepalis, all our political parties, and every youth. Let these goals inspire us to move forward unitedly. This way, our future generation would be proud of us and say that the goals set by our ancestors many years ago were the golden age and that the resolution they made foradvancing in the light of democracy was the most significant moment in the history.
We all know that goals cannot be achieved without making efforts. Achieving goals requires determination. It requires continued efforts. It requires the courage to move forward unwaveringly. On this day, let us make a crucial resolution to achieve the national goals that we have aspired to achieve. First, let us resolve to remain committed to democracy. No matter the difficulties, we will uphold the dignity of democracy and move forward placing people at the center. Second, let us resolve to be committed to good governance. We will align politics, state affairs, and governance within the boundaries of ethics, integrity, and values. Third, let us resolve to be committed to inclusivity and social justice. We will make our diverse ethnicities, languages, religions, cultures, and civilizations a shared aspect of our society. Brotherhood, unity, and equality will be our way of life. Social harmony and mutual respect will be our cultural attribute. Fourth, let us resolve to never allow the country, its independence, and sovereignty to be compromised under any circumstances. Fifth, let us resolve to be dedicated to the welfare of the citizens. In our state, governance and politics, citizens will always come first. The state’s interests will not be other thancitizens’ welfare. I believe that if we can turn these resolutions into national commitments, no one can stop our country from reaching new heights of development and prosperity.
As we continue on the path of national prosperity, there are several crucial issues we must pay attention to. First, we need to make the state more democratic, just, people-centered, and well-governed. We need effective governance and excellent service delivery to link political changes with the lives of citizens. This will instill hope in people, and foster trust in democracy as the only process to realize secured future.
I believe effective implementation of the constitution, ensuring good governance, accelerating development, and improving service delivery are the needs of the time, and focus must be on its full implementation.
Similarly, another crucial issue that we must pay attention is putting an end to the malpractices and irregularities. There is widespread concern that malpractices and irregularities are deteriorating every part of our state and eroding trust. If we do not act now to restore this trust, when will we? Without restoring this trust, neither can we achieve the goals of the constitution nor see the political change will yield results. On this day, I believe we must resolve to strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
Thus, as we celebrate Constitution Day today with enthusiasm and excitement, let us light a new lamp of hope within ourselves. For this is not a time for despair, blame, or negative comments about our country. This is a time for having unity, self-confidence, and forward-looking vision. May this day inspire all of us to move from despair to hope and toward the path of a prosperous Nepal.
President Ram Chandra Paudel was addressing a reception program hosted on the occasion of Constitution Day, 2081.
