Former House Speaker Ghimire Stresses Importance of Upholding Social Decorum and Democratic Values

Jhapa. Former House of Representatives Speaker Devraj Ghimire stated on Sunday that it is everyone's responsibility to preserve social dignity and democratic customs.

Ghimire mentioned that seeing a picture of a woman and a newborn baby watching him from outside a wall while he was addressing a gathering in Arjunadhara a few days ago brought many thoughts to his mind, emphasizing the need for social responsibility.

According to him, Nepali society is based on the tradition of two to four generations living together, where the custom of respecting elders and loving the young keeps society connected. "Our society is made up of various castes, languages, and cultures. Mutual respect within this diversity is our identity," he said.

Stating that his life as a candidate and a public representative is an open book for everyone, he mentioned that citizens of all age groups can observe him. "Just as the woman and the newborn baby were looking at me, all sections of society observe their public representatives," he clarified.

However, he expressed concern over the increasing trend in recent years on social media and in public life of insulting, using hateful expressions, and belittling elderly personalities.

"The growing support for those who use harsh words mixed with hatred in politics is not a good sign for democracy," he said. He added that while he tries to answer questions that come to his inbox as much as possible, some comments are such that they cannot be spoken, heard, or written in a civilized society.

"Not just elections, but our behavior, speech, and writing also strengthen or weaken democracy," he wrote on social media.