REPUBLIC DAY TO BE OFFICIALLY CELEBRATED FIRST TIME OFFICIALLY Kathmandu, 3 May:: Prime Minister (PM) Dr Baburam Bhattarai has directed the bodies concerned to make necessary preparations to mark the Republic Day in a grandeur manner on Thursday, RSS reports. Speaking at a meeting of the Republic Day Main Organising Committee held at the office of the National Planning Commission (NPC), the PM said that functions of the Republic Day should be triumphant. "The first Republic Day to be marked after the promulgation of new constitution has a historical importance. Constructive support from all sides is necessary to make this function memorable," the PM told the meeting. The government has formed different committees to mark the Republic Day on May 27-29. In a bid to mark the Republic Day, the Radio Nepal would organise awareness raising duet folk song competition while the Nepal Television, Radio Nepal and other private media houses would also conduct different programmes to unveil different aspects of the Republic Day. Similarly, the Republic Day would be marked by organising a formal programme on May 28 at Khula Munch at the presence of Chairman of Republic Day Main Organising Committee and other members. Nepal Television and Radio Nepal would broadcast the live programmes of the especial function. Nnnn MINISTER RAJ LAL YADAV HOPES CONSTITUTION WILL BE PROMULGATED Kathmandu, 3 May:: Minister without Portfolio Raj Lal Yadav has expressed his hope that the new constitution would be promulgated within the slated time, RSS reports. Speaking at a press meet at the Reporters' Club on Thursday, he said that it would be easier to promulgate the constitution in time if the national consensus government was formed. Urging all the parties to rise above the partisan interests and think about the interests of the nation, Minister Yadav said the constitution-drafting would be obstructed if any political party brings 'no-confidence motion' against the government. The recent bomb blast took place in Janakpur was a 'tragic incident', he said and added that the government should bear all expenses required for the medical treatment of those injured in the explosion. The Minister without Portfolio further stressed that the expenditure details of the amount allocated from the parliamentary development should be transparent. nnnn