In their message to the country on the occasion of the 8th Republic Day, the President and the PM also emphasised that the task of constitution writing remains very much a relevant issue and it should be continued.

Rebuilding and rehabilitating the families and communities affected by the earthquake is surely a top priority, the President said, but it should not be an excuse to halt or prolong statute writing. He urged the parties to display the same spirit of unity that the people have shown in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake.

The President extended condolence to the families of those who died in the quake and wished for speedy recovery of the injured. He also paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy in many occasions in the past. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said despite the challenges ahead, he was confident that Nepal will overcome them if everyone worked together.

He appealed for the support and coordination from all political parties and the people in rebuilding and rehabilitation works as well as in constitution writing.

The Prime Minister said the country was marking its Republic Day in the wake of a sombre occasion and that he shared the grief and loss of thousands of families and of the nation. The disaster befell us just when we were in the process of writing a new constitution, he said, and now we should deal with this crisis together, as a single nation.

The Prime Minister also said that we should not forget the people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy and republic. Their contribution has empowered us as a democratic nation, he added.