KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 18

Former Speaker Damannath Dhungana was cremated with state honors at Aryaghat in Pashupatinath this afternoon.

A contingent of the Nepali Army rendered a 17-gun salute in his honor, and his sons lit the funeral pyre.

Dhungana, who had been receiving treatment for liver-related ailments, passed away at the age of 83 at Frontline Hospital, Baneshwar, on Sunday afternoon.

Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, leaders from various political parties, Members of Parliament, and individuals from diverse walks of life gathered at Aryaghat to pay their final respects to the late Dhungana.

Earlier, leaders including the Prime Minister, Speaker, Nepali Congress President, and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair, among others, visited Sano Gaucharan to pay their tributes. The government had declared a public holiday today in honor of Dhungana's contributions and decided to conduct his last rites with state honors.

A staunch advocate for a multi-party system, democracy, peace, and human rights, Dhungana played a pivotal role in ending Nepal's Maoist armed conflict and restoring peace in the nation. Renowned for his deep knowledge of the constitution and laws, he was known for candidly addressing political distortions and discrepancies.

Elected as a Member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu Constituency No. 2 in 2048 BS, Dhungana served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, contributing significantly to the institutionalization of Nepal's parliamentary system and democratic values.

He was also a member of the commission that drafted the 2047 BS Constitution and had been actively engaging with legal experts and political figures to advocate for constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening federalism and resolving political instability in the country.