PM Oli, other party leaders pay tributes

Lalitpur, November 19

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped out of his official Baluwatar residence for the first time after he was discharged from hospital to attend the first death anniversary of Prakash Dahal, the only son of Co-chair of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

PM  Oli went to Dahal’s residence at Khumaltar, Lalitpur, to pay tribute to Prakash. It was the first public programme that PM Oli attended after October 29 when he was hospitalised.

The PM attended the programme with his wife Radhika Shakya.

Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, Jhalanath Khanal, other top leaders of different political parties, ministers and bureaucrats also attended the first death anniversary of Prakash Dahal.

PM Oli could speak for only nine minutes in a low voice without making any political comment.

PM Oli said that Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal played an extraordinary role last year after losing his son Prakash.  “Pushpa Kamal Dahal and I were in Jhapa campaigning for provincial and parliamentary elections last year when we heard that his son Prakash had died of cardiac arrest. We could not believe the news but we had to believe. Dahal showed extraordinary courage bearing such a huge loss” Oli said. He said Prakash’s death was a huge loss for Dahal’s family, NCP (NCP) and also for the country.

He said Prakash successfully managed his father’s secretariat, which was a challenging job.

PM Oli was not supposed to leave Baluwatar for some time as per the doctor’s recommendation. He was working from his official residence and attended only a few programmes at Baluwatar.

Tears rolled down Dahal and his wife Sita’s cheeks when leaders gathered at their residence to pay tribute to their son Prakash. Sita was comforted by her daughter Renu.

Pushapa Kamal Dahal said his family had been saved from disintegration due to the unparalleled love, affection and care shown by people of the country.

It was because of people’s love and affection that his family members were committed to do their best for the country.