Kathmandu, Apr. 20:The Jana Abhinandan Samaroha Samiti (People’s Felicitation Committee) felicitated senior leftist leader Nirmal at a function here today.

Mr. Lama, a freedom fighter and one of the architects of the present constitution is now undergoing cancer treatment at Teaching Hospital. He is in critical condition.

He is now living on saline water after his oesophagus failed to work.

At the programme, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said Mr Lama has the qualities what a good man should have and he has been honoured today because of his dedication to the nation and the people.

Stating that Mr Lama was a leader no matter which party he took to, Mr Bhattarai observed that the new trend of honouring individuals while they are alive may inspire others to work for the nation and the people.

CPN-ML president Mrs Sahana Pradhan said Mr Lama, after he joined the communist party, has all along been working in favour of the nation and the people.

Senior advocate Damannath Dhungana noted that Mr Lama earned great respect and love from the people because of his judgement that organization is above power and ideology is above the organization.

A host of other speakers including CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari and member-secretary of the Nirmal Lama treatment committee Amik Sherchan also spoke at the function chaired by convenor of the committee Padmaratna Tuladhar.