Lalitpur, February 2:

Senior leaders of the Nepali Congress today remembered the party’s founding leader Shree Bhadra Sharma as an ideal leader of the first generation of Nepal’s democratic movement and acknowledged his lifelong struggle for the transformation of the country.

Addressing a condolence meeting organised by the party at its central office in Sanepa on the 13th day of Sharma’s demise, they said politicians and cadres should follow late Sharma’s political conduct.

NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, after meeting the bereaved family in Koteshwor this morning, remembered late Sharma as a great thinker of democratic socialism. “We used to talk a lot about socialism while we were together in jail,” Koirala recalled.

Acting President Sushil Koirala said, “His dedication, sacrifice and political culture are worth followed by the new generation.” He recalled Sharma as an influential leader who was always concerned about strengthening the party and democracy.

Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel said, “Sharma fought on the frontline for democracy during the Rana regime.” Paudel said Sharma and his family had to face social exclusion for leading a democratic movement against the feudal system.

“I abandoned Left ideology and got into the politics of Nepali Congress because of BP Koirala, Shree Bhadra Sharma and other democratic leaders of the first generation,” Paudel said. Vice-president Prakash Man Singh said Sharma’s family was exiled because of his leading role in the ‘Jayatu Samskritam Movement’, which was waged against the Rana rulers some 61 years ago. “We find a highly persuasive model of sacrifice in him.”

General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said late Sharma was a strong believer in democracy, non-violence and peace. Central member Govinda Raj Joshi recalled him as one of the forefathers of the democratic movement. Central member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said he had a cultured, simple and persuasive personality, typical of the first-generation leaders. Raghunath Paudel, NC Tanahaun president, remembered Sharma as a dedicated leader

of the country. NC leaders, CA members and the chiefs of party’s sister organisations paid tributes to late Sharma.