Kathmandu: The 17th Republic Day is observing celebrated across the country today. A Republic Day main celebration committee is holding a special function at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. The Day is associated with people's movement and aspiration for change.

All three tiers of government are conducting the programmes to commemorate the historic day. It is the day the country was declared a Republic.

The government has decided to observe the day for three days- from May 27 to 29. The government offices in the country and diplomatic missions abroad would conduct programmes along with illumination.

After then CPN Maoist's armed conflict and seven parties' peaceful movement, then King Gyanendra Shah had restored the House of Representatives (HoR) on April 24, 2006, thereby returning the rule to the people's representatives. Two years later, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008, declared the country a Republic.

The Republic Day main celebration committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to celebrate the Republic Day, 2081 in a grand manner this year.

President Ramchandra Paudel has stated that the federal democratic republic system has ensured complete political rights in the country.

In a message today on the occasion of Republic Day, the President said that this was an opportune moment to move ahead united for a prosperous future and congratulated all Nepalis terming this a historic and prideful day. "We had achieved the republic system along with freedom in this day 17 years ago. Nepalis had obtained civilian supremacy from this day and had set a foundation for a liberal, inclusive proportional Democratic Republic Nepal along with social justice," reads the President's message.

Likewise, the President has expressed heartfelt condolences to all the martyrs who got martyrdom for the cause of this prideful transformation and has expressed deep respect to all senior leaders for their dedication and sacrifices in the fight for the republic system.  

The President has stated that this day will remind one and all to work for the fulfillment of the commitments made to empower the citizens in the frame of democratic cultures. 

The President has said that the greatest thing sought by the republic is upliftment of people's living standards and for this focus should be given to production growth, judicious distribution, employment promotion and good governance. 

Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav has extended best wishes, saying the 17th Republic Day would encourage all to move ahead with unwavering faith in the rights of the general people. 

In a message today on the occasion of Republic Day, Vice-President Yadav wished happiness, peace, prosperity and progress to all Nepalis. 

"Remembering those martyrs who sacrificed their lives in People's Movement, People's War and Madhes movement for federal democratic republic system, I pay heartfelt condolences towards them," reads the message. 

Similarly, the Vice-President extended his deep respects to those injured and enforced disappeared persons during such movements. 

"I want to congratulate and extend best wishes on Republic Day as this Day could encourage all to be active for protecting great achievements of democracy, republicanism, federalism, inclusiveness, nation's welfare  and constitution," reads the message. 

He underscored that the establishment of the federal democratic republic system was possible in the country only from extraordinary struggles and sacrifices from the brave people of Nepal. He has also called for moving ahead by being responsible from respective levels to make general people hopeful. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that a republic system is not only a political system but also a lifestyle. 

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of Republic Day today, the PM has argued that the republic system has been institutionalized at the citizen's level with the development of a republican lifestyle at all walks of life in the society. 

PM Prachanda has stated that a republic is a system to best utilize one's rights while respecting others' rights too, and more than that the federal democratic republic is also local autonomy and the right to self-determination on fundamental issues. "So, the government is making efforts with firm determination to share its dividends to the citizens," according to the PM.

The PM has said that this system offers a guideline for building a prosperous nation by being committed to socialism as stated in the constitution.  

Furthermore, the PM has said the federal republic system has institutionalized the democratic norms and values including a competitive multiparty democratic system, civic freedom, fundamental rights, human rights, periodic elections, complete press freedom, independent judiciary and rule of law. 

Likewise, he said the government is working on policy, legal and structural reforms to ensure the dividends of this system to the grassroots-level people. 

In his message, the PM has extended heartfelt condolences to all the martyrs who lost their lives in different political movements, People's War, People's Movement-II, Madhes movement and other struggles.