KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Poudel has said that mere political achievements are not enough to connect the federal democratic republic meaningfully with the lives of citizens.
Marking Republic Day 2082 BS, President Poudel stressed the need to reform the character of governance to ensure the relevance of the republic in everyday life.
In his Republic Day message, President Poudel remarked that the biggest threats to the republic today are procrastination, irregularities, and chaos.
“Political change alone is insufficient. To make the republic impactful, our governance must undergo fundamental transformation,” he said.
He called for a shift not only in governance but also in the values and conduct of political leaders, parties, and institutions.
“We must not delay in making our politics, our style of governance, political parties, and institutions of representation more democratic, fair, competitive, just, and effective to realize the true essence of the republic,” he stated.
President Poudel emphasized that citizens who envisioned a democratic republic should not be left disappointed.
“Until every citizen’s life is illuminated with the light of hope, the aspirations tied to the federal democratic republic—achieved through struggle and sacrifice—remain unfulfilled,” he said.
“Citizens demand good governance, employment, opportunity, fair distribution of resources, and social justice. None of these can be achieved without economic development, which requires serious commitment from all.”
He further noted that prosperity begins with uplifting the living standards of the people by maximizing the use of available national resources.
“We must fully utilize our potential to strengthen agriculture, tourism, energy, and the industrial and service sectors. Only then can we achieve economic growth and prosperity and firmly connect the republic to citizens’ lives. This is how we can build new hopes and make our republic strong, successful, and results-driven. That is our historical responsibility,” the president said.
President Poudel also reminded the nation that the republic is not merely a political system but a comprehensive way of life that encompasses social and economic dimensions.
“We cannot fulfill our historical duties if we forget the values and moral foundations of the republic,” he said. “Today serves as a reminder of our responsibilities. Let us work collectively to preserve the dignity of the republic and make it more prosperous.”
He concluded by stating that Nepal’s democratic republic is one of the best political systems in the world, enriched by federalism, inclusiveness, social justice, and democratic ideals.
This system, he said, guarantees political rights for all and unites citizens from diverse castes, languages, religions, and cultures under a shared national identity and purpose.
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