Pokhara, Mar. 30:Senior Nepali Congress worker Min Bahadur Gurung,   who had been active in the Nepali Congress since 2004 B.S. passed away at his own residence in Pumdi Bhumdi Vdc Ward No 1 this afternoon. He was 96.

The late Gurung had been suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes and was being treated by doctors at his own residence.

Late Gurung was elected to the House of Representatives from Constituency No. 99 in the general election of  2015 B.S. and was made the defense vice Minister in the council of Ministers led by  the late B. P. Koirala.

He had served jail sentences 14 times during his political career.

His body will be cremated in accordance with the Gurung culture tomorrow at the local Chihandanda (cremation ground).

His son is the former mp Krishna Bahadur Gurung.

The late Gurung is survived by his younger wife Basanta Devi Gurung. She too has been suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said he is deeply grieved by the death of  Mr Min Bahadur Gurung.

In a condolence message today, Mr Koirala noted that the late gurung was the first generation leader and remained as a pillar for the sake of the party.

Stating that contribution of the late Gurung to the 2007 B.S. revolution has remained as an unforgettable chapter of the Congress party, the Prime Minister remarked that the late nc leader who performed a remarkable role in 2015 B.S. general elections was the Assistant Minister for Defence in the Council of Minister formed under the leadership of  B. P. Koirala in 2016 B.S.

The late Gurung who suffered torture in jail after 2017 B.S. never deviated from his loyalty to democracy, Mr Koirala said, adding that his death has caused a great loss to the nation and democracy.

The Prime Minister expressed deep condolence to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Similarly, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Paudel, in a message, said that the late Gurung, a commander of the 2007-B.S. revolution and dedicated leader of the western region, was a source of inspiration for all of us and his death has caused a great loss to the democratic movement of Nepal.

Mr Paudel also extended condolence to the bereaved family including his son former mp krishna Bahadur Gurung and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

In a similar message, former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai expressed grief over the death of leader of the 2007 B.S. revolution and his contribution to the Nepali Congress and the people will never be forgotten.

Likewise, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the late Gurung’s courage, selflessness, honesty and spirit of sacrifice had made outstanding contributions in the restoration and consolidation of democracy.

The loss suffered by the country as a result of his death was indescribable in words and he was a living witness of the history of the democratic movement of Nepal, Mr Deuba said, expressing heartfelt condolences to specially the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi, in his condolence message, has expressed profound grief at the demise of an active freedom fighter and former assistant Minister Min Bahadur Gurung who had won by overwhelming majority in the general elections of 2015 B.S. and said that the country had lost a great personality and the Nepali Congress a historic  man and a good leader.

Minister Joshi also prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and expressed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family including late Gurung’s son former mp krishna Bahadur Gurung.

General secretary of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, in his condolence message, said that he was shocked to hear of the demise of Min Bahadur Gurung, and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

In the message, nc general secretary recalled the outstanding contributions of the late Gurung for the sake of democracy saying that he was a source of inspiration for everyone in the political movement for the restoration democracy.