Leaders of opposition parties-Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have criticised UCPN (Maoist) led government for breaking tradition of celebrating democracy day on 7 Fagun saying that the move raised serious doubt towards the commitment of the Maoist party to the democracy.

NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel said that the decision of government not to celebrate the day indicated Maoist intention to establish autocratic system like Rana regime. He also warned that such decision would sour the relationship among the parties.

“Act of removing democracy day from national calendar is condemnable,” he added.

Similarly, UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said his party would ask clarification from Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai over the government decision not to celebrate the democracy day.

Although there is a public holiday on Sunday, for the first time since 2007 B.S the Maoist-led government is not organising any formal programmes to observe the day when the nation was liberated from the 104-year long Rana dictatorship. nepalnews.com