Kathmandu, May 9: Nirmal Lama, senior communist leader and one of the members of the Constitution Recommendation Commission of 1990 passed away at the Teaching Hospital at 6:10 in the morning today.
Seventy-year-old Lama was suffering from cancer of the food pipe for the last nine months.
Lama’s condition had deteriorated after the cancer spread to his brain. He had been admitted at the Teaching Hospital on May 6.
General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Unity Centre) Prakash had covered Lama’s body with the party’s flag before he was brought to the Amrit Secondary School in Mhenpi at 1:10 p.m. this afternoon.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Leader of the main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal, President of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) Bamdev Gautam paid tributes to Lama today.
Well wishers, politicians and party workers thronged the premises of the Amrit Secondary School to pay their last respects to Lama.
The funeral procession of late Lama will start from Mhenpi at two in the afternoon tomorrow. The procession will end at Swayambhu where his last rites will be performed jointly by the Unity Centre and his family members.
Lama, leader of the Nepal Communist Party (Unity Centre) was born in Kurseong, Darjelling in January 1930. He completed his Bachelor in Arts from Tribhuvan University and joined the Nepal Prajatantra Congress in Jogbani in 2005 B.S.
Lama who joined the Nepali Congress in 2007 B.S. was the first Office Secretary of the party. Following the unification of the Nepal Prajatantra Congress and the Nepal Rastriya Congress in 2007 B.S. Lama was one of the frontline commanders of the revolution against dictatorial Rana rulers.
He left the Congress party and joined the Nepal Communist party in 1951.
Lama was arrested for the first time in 1952 and imprisoned on Khursani Parva and Bhedabakhra Kanda incidents. He was arrested and imprisoned several times in the course of his political career.
Lama was underground from 2031 B.S. to 2046 B.S. during the ban imposed on political parties by the then Panchayat regime.
He became the politburo member of the Nepal Communist party (Unity Centre) after its formation in 2047 B.S.
Following the split in the Unity Center Lama had been working as a senior leader of the Center. Late Lama is survived by his wife Sukanya Waiba, one son and one daughter.
RSS adds: As wished by senior leftist leader Nirmal Lama before his death, his eyes have been transplanted on two needy persons at Tilganga eye hospital today.
Those receiving the eye transplantation were a 52 years old women from Sarlahi and a 60 years old woman of Nuwakot, according to the hospital.
Meanwhile CPN-UML central committee at its meeting held today expressed profound sorrow over the demise of CPN-Unity Centre leader Nirmal Lama, and decided to postpone by a day the current central committee meeting and close down the central office and fly the party flag at half mast.
Meanwhile, in a statement of condolences, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that in more than five decades of political life the Late Lama made important contribution to gearing ahead the Nepalese communist movement, democratic movement and the movement of patriotism.
Likewise, NC leader and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said late Lama will always remain among the Nepalese people for his exemplary role in drafting the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 and his arduous life.
Similarly, the central secretariat meeting of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Chaired By NWPP president Narayan Man Bijukchhe expressed deep sorrow over the demise of a untiring fighter of Nepal’s communist movement and extended heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.
Expressing profound sorrow over the demise of Mr Lama, Nepal Communist Party (Marxist) has said that the statement given by Mr Lama a few days ago from his hospital bed regarding the present political situation should be taken seriously by every honest political worker.
Likewise, Socialist Movement Nepal, Nepal Communist Party (Malema) and Informal Sector Services Centre (INSEC) have also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Mr. Lama.
Meanwhile Minister for Home Govinda Raj Joshi has said that he has been profoundly grieved on hearing the news of the passing away of leftist leader and freedom fighter Nirmal Lama this morning. The late Lama passed away this morning at the TU Teaching Hospital at the age of 70.
In a condolence message, the home minister stated that the leading role played by Lama in the leftist history of Nepal and his contributions to the democratic struggle and to safeguarding democracy after its restoration will be remembered for ever, adding that in his demise the country has lost a freedom fighter and a good politician.
Home Minister Joshi also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Likewise, Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Binaya Dhwaj Chand, in his condolence message, said he was stunned to learn of the demise of Mr Lama, a senior leftist leader and a member of the constitution drafting committee in 1990, and at the same time the country has lost a great politician.
He has wished eternal peace to the departed soul and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family. He prayed for strength to the bereaved family to bear their grief.