Itahari, Jan. 9 : Leaders of various leftist parties jointly inaugurated a three-day fifth national conference of the Nepal Progressive University Teachers’ Association by lighting a candle at Dharan today.

At the conference aimed at forging unity among various leftist political parties, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, president of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, general secretary of the United People’s Front Nepal Lila Mani Pokhrel and convenor of the National People’s Movement Coordinating Committee Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha were the chief guests.

On the occasion, general secretary of the main opposition party CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that CPN-UML holds the view that the leftist movement will never be successful through extremist terrorist movement launched by discarding the leftist character. His party is of the view that the Maoists should be isolated from the leftist community, he added.

Observing that the Nepali Congress quarrels for power but unites when it comes to the question of party interest he said on the contrary the left political scenario is plagued by narrow-mindedness. The Progressive Professors Group should find an answer to the question why the left unity is on a decline, he added.

President of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and mp narayan Man Bijukchhe said at a time when the nation is facing a crisis the leftist academia have not been sensitive to the issues of national concern.

General secretary of the United Front Nepal and mp lila Mani Pokharel said the unity movement has been drifting away as the trend of giving importance to the ideas of certain individuals has ruled the roost and the basic policies of Marxist have been shunned.

Convenor of the National People’s Movement Coordination Committee Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha said although the Nepali leftist groups have been successful in organising street movement they have not yet been able to reach a conclusion in the interest of the people.

At the function various speakers including president of the Public Campus Association Dr. Keshav Khadka, president of annfsu hikmat Khadka, professor Bharat Pokharel, Dr. Om Gurung, Ekaraj Bhattaria, Krishna Man Palikhe, Kumar Bahadur Karki also expressed their views.

At the function presided over by Baburam Bhattarai, professors Mangal Siddi Manandhar and Mahendra Pandey were felicitated.

The conference was participated in by 350 representatives from all over the kingdom.