Different organisations and political parties on Wednesday organised vairous programmes to mark the 295th birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah, also known as National Unity Day. 

People representing diverse groups gathered outside Singha Durbar in Kathmandu to offer floral tribute to the statute of late King Shah, who is credited for unifying Nepal. 

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) hosted a tea reception and greetings exchange programme at Bhrikutimandap in the Capital today to mark the Prithvi Jayanti.

Present on the occasion were the leaders of different political parties including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic), ministers, chiefs of security agencies, lawmakers, intellectuals, doctors and journalists. 

Likewise, chiefs of different diplomatic missions and embassies based in Nepal were also present at the reception. 

RPP Executive Chairperson Kamal Thapa, National Chairperson Pashupati Shumsher Rana and senior leader Dr Prakash Chandra Lohoni had welcomed the guests at the programme. 

Leaders recall Prithvi as national unifier 

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said it was necessary to establish political norms and values for national unity. 

"Today's Cabinet meeting has formed a committee to carry out study on granting public holiday on the day as there was no clear policy to take decision in this regard following the 2006 April Uprising (People's Movement)," said PM Dahal.

He added the Committee will recommend the issue of public holiday after carrying out study over the public holiday demanded by the history as well as all the linguistic and ethnic communities". 

Prime Minister Dahal said that Prithvi Narayan Shah had established an unified state on the basis of national unity by uniting principalities. 

Recalling the contribution of Prithvi Narayan Shah for national unity, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said, "It will not be enough to talk about Prithvi Narayan Shah's contributions in the making of modern Nepal." 

Similarly, CPN (UML) chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said contributions of Prithvi Narayan Shah should not be utilized to fulfill personal interest since he had united Nepal as per the aspirations of then Nepali people. 

Likewise, CPN (UML) leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stressed the need of national unity amoing the political forces to propel national interests.

(Photos by Sanjog Manandhar, Text from RSS)