Requesting the President to deliver a speech on Republic Day

On the occasion of Kathmandu Republic Day, the Prime Minister has requested the President to deliver a speech at the event. Prime Minister Balendra Shah wrote a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel asking him to address the gathering on the occasion of Republic Day on Jestha 15. It was decided by the Council of Ministers to correspond with the President regarding this matter. Accordingly, the government’s Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal delivered the letter to the President’s Office at Sheetal Niwas. Although the letter recommended addressing the special program held at Tundikhel on Republic Day on the basis of sub-section 2 of Article 66 of the Constitution, sources stated that the intent of this provision was not this. The Prime Minister’s Office argues that since the President is the symbol of the Republic, it would be preferable for him to deliver the address. President’s Office spokesperson Ritesh Kumar Shakya confirmed the receipt of the letter but stated that no decision has been made. In the past, even when Balendra was the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, he had regularly been absent from the special Republic Day ceremonies.