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President Ram Chandra Paudel has pointed out the need to fully implement the provision of reservation guaranteed by the Constitution. In a message today on the occasion of the 5th National Women's Rights Day celebrated every year on Jetha 16 of the Lunar Calendar, President Paudel has said the Constitution of Nepal has provided 33 percent reservation for women in every organ of the state and hence it is the need of the day to fully implement this provision of reservation guaranteed by the Constitution. Extending his best wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all those living in the country and abroad on the occasion, the President has also expressed his gratitude by remembering all those who contributed to ensuring gender equality and women's rights. The day is observed commemorating Jetha 16, 2063 BS, when the then reinstated House of Representatives passed four important special resolutions on Nepali women's rights. President Paudel has expressed his belief that this day will provide more energy and enthusiasm to the national and international efforts made to maintain gender equality while ensuring women's rights. Stressing on the need to develop and implement women targeted programs in the areas of education, health, employment, poverty alleviation, livelihood improvement, social security, access to infrastructure and technology, President Paudel said this was essential to ensure equal, meaningful and respectful participation of women in political, social, judicial and other sectors. "Women are still not completely safe in the workplace, educational institutions, public places and the society with an increase in incidents of violence against women and children, which is very sad", the President said. He said that it is necessary to put an end to all kinds of violence, exploitation, discrimination and abuse against women and children by employing all mechanisms of the state to address such activities. "I wish everyone to be inspired to build a civilized society with gender equality by ensuring the safety, respect and rights of Nepali women through positive changes in social attitude, conduct, customs and practice from today onwards", reads the message.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has appealed to all to celebrate the Republic Day in a grand way with due respect to its glory, gravity, and significance. In his address to a special ceremony held at the local Tundikhel on the occasion of the 16th Republic Day today, the Prime Minister made it clear that federalism and principles of inclusion and proportional representation have been adopted so as to address structural and geographical specialty of the Nepali society. "We are now the honored and sovereign citizens of the independent, sovereign and republic nation. The governance system is held by the people's representatives," he said, adding that it was being established that the federal democratic republic was the unique system of Nepal. He underscored the need of connecting this system with the people's lifestyle. People's socio-economic and cultural reformations are the goals of the existing system, according to the Prime Minister who stressed that the focus of all bodies concerned including the government should be for meeting the goals of the republic system. Underlining the need of unity and cooperation among all political parties and the people for the institutional development of republicanism, he was of the view that an unwavering approach was needed on issues of national concerns and to strengthen the foundation of national unity. The Prime Minister said conspiracies were being hatched to reverse the achievements of the federal democratic republic, claiming that no ill efforts to hamper the entire system upon some weaknesses over its implementation would be entertained. "Such attempts will never be allowed to be successful." According to the head of the government, recent circumstances in the country have proved that the development of democracy is possible within the democratic system itself. He appealed to one and all to realize the need of national unity once again to build a prosperous Nepal along with good governance and social justice.  

Nagarik Unmukti Party leader Resham Chaudhary has been released from prison on Monday. He was released from the jail this morning after President Ram Chandra Paudel, on the recommendation of the government, pardoned his remaining sentence on the occasion of Republic Day. Chaudhary was serving a life term in Dillibazaar Prison after being convicted of masterminding the 2015 Tikapur massacre. Earlier on Sunday, the government had recommended the President’s Office to pardon his remaining jail term. Responding to journalists after being released from the prison, Chaudhary said that he is innocent. He was of the opinion that the government should take action against the real culprits. Saying that the Tikapur incident should be investigated, he demanded that a high-level probe commission should be formed for the same. He said that the Tikapur incident is not the incident that took place in a closed room. Chaudhary said that Tharus were not completely involved in the incident. He also thanked the government for releasing him. Chaudhary’s father and mother and his wife and minister Ranjita Chaudhary had reached the Dillibazaar Prison to receive him. Nagarik Unmukti Party leaders, cadres and his well-wishers had also reached the prison to welcome Chaudhary. The Kailai District Court on February 24, 2019 handed down a life sentence to 11 people including Chaudhary in connection with the 2015 Tikapur incident in which nine people including seven security personnel and a toddler were killed in a violent clash. The Dipayal High Court on December 18, 2020 upheld the decision of the District Court. Earlier on May 16, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of Kailali District Court and Dipayal High Court to sentence Chaudhary to life imprisonment in the Tikapur incident.  

The government has decided to recommend the President’s Office to pardon the jail sentence of Resham Chaudhary, who is serving a life term in Dillibazaar Prison after being convicted of masterminding the 2015 Tikapur massacre. Making public the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on Sunday morning, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said that the government has decided to recommend the President’s Office to pardon the sentence of Chaudhary. Earlier, President Ram Chandra Paudel had withdrawn the proposal to pardon Chaudhary. Minister Sharma said that the government has recommended the President's Office to pardon Chaudhary on the occasion of Republic Day. Nagarik Unmukti Party leader Chaudhary will be released on the Republic Day if the President’s Office implements the recommendation of the government. Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting to be held on Monday will decide on the agenda of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's India visit. Prime Minister Dahal will pay an official visit to India from May 31 to June 3 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.