Participants of jute mill strike of 1949 feted

January 27, 2001
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Biratnagar, Jan. 27 : As part of the Martyrs Day programmes, the Man Mohan Memorial Foundation organised a programme at Hadtalihat, Biratnagar-19 today to felicitate 32 distinguished persons who had spearheaded the historic Biratnagar Jute Mill Workers Movement in 2003 BS. As eight of the 32 are no more, their families were felicitated instead.

At the programme, president of the Foundation Bharat Mohan Adhikari, secretary Ishwor Pokhrel and member Kisendra Shahi presented shawls and letters of felicitation to freedom fighters still living and letters of felicitation to the families of those who have died.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, founder leader of the Nepal Communist Party Nara Bahadur Karmacharya, Nara Bahadur Limbu and Manmaya Rai, who were active partners in the movement, could not be present at the programme due to their busy schedules.

Those felicitated on the occasion were Raghunath Gupta, Munni Lal Chaudhari, Ramdas Chaudhari, Bal Tamang, Chandra Bahadur Magarati, Ganga Bahadur Baniya Chhetri, Banshidhar Lal Das, Pachananda Das, Baijanath Shaha, Ram Prasad Upadhyaya, Balaram Rai, Narayan Shaha, Baijnath Chaudhari, Asharam Maharjan, Chitralal Pradhan, D.B. Meyangbo, Mahendra Chaudhari, K.B. Karki, Chhabi Lal Lamsal and Chameli Lal Shrestha.

Likewise, the families of Bishwonath Gupta, Nanda Devi Nepal, Rana Kumar Lama, Mahesh Upadhyaya, Harihar Upadhyaya, Naina Lal Bohara, Balu Sardar Chaudhari and Gormani Singh were presented with letters of felicitation.

Foundation president and MP Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who chaired the programme, recalled that the jute mill workers movement had culminated in the downfall of the Rana regime and etablishment of democracy in the country.

He also gave the information that the foundation has decided to build a mill workers movement memorial pillar at Hadtalihat with the cooperation of the mill workers forum and the municipality.

Secretary of the foundation and MP Ishwor Pokhrel said the foundation was established with the objective of helping the late Man Mohan Adhikari’s dreams come true, document the achievements of pro-democracy movements in the country and begin a tradition of respecting one’s elders.

DDC chairman Khadga Bahadur Basnet, mayor of Biratnagar Sub-metropolis Ramesh Chandra Poudel, CPN-UML central member Guru Baral and central member of the Trade Union Federation Yogi Lal Yadav also expressed the view that the labour movement carried out for the sake of democracy, public life and nationality has taken political leaders to the top but the economic situation of the labourers has not yet improved.

Nepal Sadvawana Party Morang district president Dr Hiralal Shaha, NC Morang district secretary Gopal Man Singh Rajbhandari, CPN-UML secretary Naresh Pokhrel, CPN-Masal representative Meghraj Acharya, executive director of the Man Mohan Memorial Foundation Sudip Bhattarai and other speakers also expressed their views.

At the programme a minute’s silence was observed in tribute to the martyrs.

Artiste J.B. Tuhure sang a song and president of the foundation Adhikari presented life membership of the academy to Mani Aryal of Biratnagar-14.

Also today, foundation president and MP Adhikari inaugurated the eastern regional coordination committee office of the Man Mohan Memorial Foundation at ward No.14 of Biratnagar Sub-metropolis.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari has said that a special meeting of the CPN-UML standing committee has reached the conclusion that the present constitution should be amended in order to safeguard the achievements of the 1990 popular movement, consolidate democracy and move society forward.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the CPN-UML Morang district committee here today, Mr Adhikari said the clauses in the present constitution that are to be changed have been a matter of discussion in the country.

Stating that the policy of liberalisation and privatisation has ruined the country, Mr Adhikari also said that a representative of the socialist international who was in Pokhara recently advised not to pursue a liberalisation policy.

Responding to queries from journalists, CPN-UML standing committee member Iswor Pokhrel clarified that the analysis and conclusions of the CPN-UML concerning the Maoists are as decided by the sixth national general convention of the party, adding that the group is directed by ultra-communist views and is involved in terrorist activities.