Nepal to honour freedom fighters on National Democracy Day

Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala will next week honour more than 200 freedom fighters in recognition of their struggle for establishing democracy, marking the country's 65th National Democracy Day.
The Nepali Congress has decided to honour the freedom fighters aged over 75 years during a programme at the party's central office here on February 19, according to Nepal Freedom Fighters' Association.
This is for the first time that the freedom fighters would be honoured.
Two veteran freedom fighters -- Bhumishwor Sapkota and Hem Prasad Timilsina -- who reached the age of 101 years are among the freedom fighters to be felicitated.

Koirala will hand over a certificate, a batch and a shawl to honour the freedom fighters, who would later attend a dinner at the Prime Minister's residence in Kathmandu.
National Democracy Day is celebrated on the seventh day of Nepali month of Falgun each year since 1951 when then King Tribhuvan returned from exile in India on this day, ending the 104-year-old autocratic Rana regime.

Nepali Congress had led an armed revolution against the Rana oligarchy in 1950 with the backing of then King Tribhuvan.
The revolution ended with a tripartite agreement between Rana Mohan Shamsher, King Trivhuvan and Nepali Congress chief B P Koirala in the presence of Jawahar Lal Nehru in February 1950 in Delhi, leading to the establishment of democracy.

The day is observed in the country to commemorate the struggle of people and establishment of their freedom.
Nepal became a democratic republic nation after the Constituent Assembly declared the country a republic on May 29, 2008, ending the 240-year rule of the monarchy regime.