Kathmandu, May 28: Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai inaugurated a two-day national women’s gathering organized by the Nepal Women’s Association here today.

On the occasion, Mr Bhattarai said since the history of the Nepal Women’s Association (NWA) is full of struggle since its very birth, it continues to struggle for its rights and interests.

He is prepared to forsake anything for the sake of principles he has upheld all along, he further said.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba observed that it is not proper for the congress party which has a long history of its own to interfere with its own sister organisation, adding that the whole organisation should not be sacrificed at the altar of whims and caprices.

There is a situation of fear and terror within the party and now it is not possible to stay within the party with self-dignity and self-esteem, he said and spoke of the need for the party to move ahead in a civilized manner.

NC central member and MP Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar expressed the view that the time has come to evaluate whether there is any trace of value-based politics in the party.

MP P. L. Singh remarked that the Nepal Women’s Association since its inception has been cooperating with the Nepali Congress in every struggle.

MP Prakash Man Singh observed that a non-democratic trend is gaining currency within the Nepali Congress which fought for democracy.

Various other speakers including MP Omkar Prasad Shrestha and former minister Bimalendra Nidhi also expressed their views at the function chaired by association president Kanta Singh.