KATHMANDU: Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ has called for renewed commitment to good governance and a corruption-free nation, paying tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day.
Recalling that 85 years have passed since the brutal killing of Gangalal Shrestha, Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Shukraraj Shastri by the then state while they were fighting against the Rana regime, Balen said the state has still failed to truly belong to the people.
He remarked that despite repeated changes in political systems over the past 85 years, the nature of power has remained unchanged, forcing the Nepali people into continuous struggle.
“Time and again, the Nepali people became martyrs, but the dreams of the martyrs were never fulfilled,” Balen wrote. Referring to the ‘Gen-Z’ movement that took place in September, he recalled that youths and students who had taken to the streets peacefully demanding good governance and an end to corruption also lost their lives this time.
Balen said that ending deeply rooted corruption and establishing good governance, along with transforming Nepal into an economically prosperous country, are today’s foremost responsibilities. He also stressed that extreme politicization of state institutions must be ended to make the state accountable and transparent.
“No one has the right to ignore the sacrifices of these martyrs anymore,” he wrote, adding that the time has come to honor their blood by fulfilling their dreams. He urged citizens to commit themselves in thought, word and action to building a well-governed and corruption-free country.
Concluding his message, Balen expressed the hope that “no one will have to become a martyr again” and paid heartfelt tribute and respect to all known and unknown martyrs.
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