-By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, April 26 – Political parties, private individuals and various other organizations today paid rich tributes to the CPN-UML chairman Manmohan Adhikari, pointing out that the communist leader had left behind a strong democratic political legacy.
Expressing shocks over the sudden death of the veteran communist leader, various political parties, in their condolence messages, have wished eternal peace to the departed soul.
Nepali Congress (NC), in its condolence message, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the septuagenarian leader Man Mohan Adhikari. In a statement signed by the party General Secretary Basudev Risal, the party has lauded Adhikari’s commitment in safeguarding and consolidating democracy “even if the system doesn’t fall within the ambit of communist ideology”.
The message has also pointed out the irreparable damage caused to Nepali politics by Adhikari’s death.
“Adhikari’s demise has left me very lonely,” said Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala while paying his tribute to the late communist leader at the Open Air Theatre. “Whether in the government or outside, he was always ready whenever I sought his advice.”
Talking to The Kathmandu Post later today, an emotional Madhav Nepal, UML’s general secretary and Adhikari’s comrade-in-arms, said, “I looked up to Manmohanji as a guardian.”
“In fact, he was the guardian of the nation,” said Nepal. “His demise is a great loss to us.”
Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist- Leninist), following the party’s central committee meeting, has issued a statement condoling the death of the former prime minister, wishing eternal peace to the departed soul. The meeting called to honour the late Adhikari also decided to close party offices on Tuesday across the country.
General-secretary of CPN (Mashal) Mohan Bikram Singh has said that Adhikari’s death has disrupted the movement against reactionaries, fascists and revisionists active in Nepali politics.
Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has decided to fly the party’s flag at half-mast from Monday to Wednesday. Terming Adhikari as the nation’s “guardian”, RPP president Surya Bahadur Thapa today said the late leader was endowed with the unique capacity of “understanding and coordinating political activities”, and hence a rarity among veteran politicians.
RPP (Chand), in a statement issued today has also mourned the sudden death of Adhikari. Chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Gajendra Narayan Singh in a press release issued today said the death was an “irreparable damage to Nepali politics”.
According to Amik Sherchan, President of United People’s Front Nepal, the party has decided to postpone its election programmes to honour late Adhikari. Meanwhile, president of Rastriya Janata Party, Kirti Nidhi Bista, has hailed the political culture demonstrated by late Adhikari that will stand out as a landmark in the country’s political history.