Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said time has come for all to join hands to address the voices raised by the ‘Genji’ movement by institutionalizing the achievements made through sacrifice and struggle for achieving federal democratic republic.

In her first address to the nation today, Prime Minister Karki said, “The government has declared the martyrs and provided financial relief to the bereaved families.” Arrangements have been made for free medical treatment and compensation to the injured. Apart from this, the present government has expressed regret over the loss of lives of Genji students and youths during the agitation and is committed to take stern legal action against the culprits. ”

Pledging to hold the House of Representatives election within six months, PM Karki urged all to support the government for holding the elections in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

The full description of the address is as follows:

“Respected Sisters and Gentlemen,

1. As the Prime Minister of the Interim Government formed on September 12, 2002, I have already made public my views before you on the occasion of Constitution Day, as per the agitation led by Jenji Youth on September 23 and 24, 2002 and the subsequent call to form a cabinet under my leadership. I have become the Prime Minister with the responsibility of holding the House of Representatives election within six months at a time when the Nepali people had a vision for change in the governance system, end of corruption, good governance, efficient and technology-friendly public service delivery, development and prosperity.

2. I express my heartfelt tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives in course of the demonstration and agitation by the younger generation and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. At the same time, I express deep sorrow over the unimaginable and irreparable damage caused to public structures, business establishments and private houses and property.

3. The government has declared the people who lost their lives during the demonstration as martyrs and provided financial relief to their bereaved families. The government has also arranged for free medical treatment and compensation to the injured. In addition, the government pledges to take stern legal action against the perpetrators of the loss of life of Jenji students and youths during the protests.

4. In order to give the country an outlet from this complicated situation, the government has already started the preparatory work for the general election after holding discussions with the office-bearers of the Election Commission regarding the human resources, budget, election materials, security and legal arrangements required to hold the elections in a free, fair and fear-free environment by March 4. The ordinance has already amended the existing election law to provide voting rights to the 18-year-old Genji youth and update the voters’ roll.

5. The Government of Nepal is in discussion with the Election Commission regarding the possibility of allowing Nepali citizens who are out of the country for employment to vote in the upcoming elections. The incumbent government is positive towards the constitutionally upheld demands of non-Nepali citizens for decent employment and protection of their rights and decent employment.

6. I urge all Nepali sisters and brothers to participate in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives to enthusiastically participate in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and to elect capable people’s representatives who can represent the aspirations of the younger generation for change. I also call on all the political parties, civil society, media and all the stakeholders to actively participate in the successful conduct of free, fearless and fair elections. A peaceful environment is necessary for the election to take place. Therefore, I request all Nepali sisters and brothers living in all geographical areas of the country to maintain peaceful environment with patience.

Respected Sisters and Gentlemen,

7. The government, private sector and volunteer citizens have been working to reconstruct the buildings of the security agencies damaged during the agitation at the earliest. Similarly, the government has started works to mobilize the security bodies in the workplace as before by making arrangements for essential goods such as vehicles, logistics, furniture and others.

8. An election government with a six-month term is not in a position to carry out all the activities expressed in the movement. However, we will make an honest effort to do as much as we can. I want to make sure that the service provided by the government agencies is easily accessible without any hassle, without any bribe. The incumbent government will work with determination in the areas of corruption prevention, rule of law and social justice, among other areas.

9. A hotline has been set up at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, all the ministries of the Government of Nepal and all the government offices of all three levels for redressal of complaints such as delaying in the work of the service recipients, bargaining, avoiding work, demanding bribe, harassing unnecessary trouble and behaving disrespectfully with the service recipients.

10. As the issues raised by the Genji generation during the agitation including the amendment of the Constitution of Nepal and the governance system are beyond the scope of the present interim government, I would like to urge the youths and the pro-change people to participate in the upcoming elections and amend the constitution through the constitutional process.

11. The Government of Nepal has implemented the Integrated Business Revitalization Plan to keep the morale of the industrialists and businessmen affected by the arson and vandalism in the industry, trade and business establishments by providing relief, tax, exemption, concessions and facilities to the agitated industries, trades and business establishments.

12. Procedural reforms have already been initiated to boost the morale of the private sector and reduce the cost of domestic and international trade. The Government of Nepal has accorded high priority to maintaining the security of industrial and business establishments.

13. The government has scrapped the budget allocated for the fragmented projects by cutting unproductive expenditure for reconstruction and rehabilitation of structures damaged during the agitation and holding the general elections.

14. The Rehabilitation Fund has been established for the reconstruction of public and government physical structures damaged during the agitation. I would like to appeal to the government, private sector, organisations, and friendly countries as well as to all Nepali citizens at home and abroad who want to contribute to the reconstruction task by contributing to the fund.

15. The task of preparing a reconstruction plan has been started after assessing the damage to public property, physical structures and private establishments. Likewise, arrangements have been made for the reconstruction and maintenance of damaged public infrastructures and the purchase of vehicles and other materials by making the process of regular work and service delivery operational. The task of expanding the access of telephone and internet services has been started in the remote mountainous and hilly districts.

16. A three-member probe committee has been formed under the chairmanship of former justice Gauri Bahadur Karki to investigate into the incidents of vandalism, arson, looting and use of force during the agitation.

17. The present government has already received clear information about the corruption in the past. Therefore, necessary investigation will be conducted and the process of taking action against the guilty will be initiated. The government agencies have already initiated investigation into the unusual amount of cash found in the private houses of the people in the course of the protests.

18. There is a need for all to join hands to address the voices raised by the present Zenji movement by institutionalizing the achievements made through the sacrifices, sacrifices and struggles for the attainment of the Federal Democratic Republic. For the sake of the country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and nation, all Nepalis should unite and move ahead with wisdom. Therefore, at this difficult hour, I expect full cooperation of all patriotic Nepali citizens to fulfill the responsibility given to the interim government under my leadership.

19. Quality and dignified life, economic development and prosperity, social justice and eradication of corruption are the common agenda of the Genji youth and all of us, so I see the need for the common people to contribute from their respective areas to achieve these goals without wasting any time.

20. I call upon all civil servants to fulfill their responsibilities with high morale by transforming themselves and fulfilling the expectations of the citizens as per the thoughts and aspirations of the younger generation. I urge the civil servants and all bodies concerned not to indulge in activities capable of weakening their morale but to work towards fulfilling their assigned responsibilities.

21. I would like to inform that all the state mechanisms have been activated to strengthen the supply of essential goods including foodstuffs, easy transportation and security during the upcoming festivals.

22. In the end, on the occasion of Bada Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat, Chhath and other festivals of 2082 BS, I would like to express my heartfelt good wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all Nepalese sisters and brothers and wish for the speedy recovery of those injured in the agitation.