Kathmandu, February 4

CPN-UML Vice-chair Bamdev Gautam said this party, being the largest and leading party of the left alliance, should be magnanimous for the sake of unity.

Addressing a function here today on the occasion of the 20th  establishment day of Press Chutari, a journalists’ forum close to the UML, Gautam said that if the unification effort failed, the nation would suffer a lot. He also informed that previous attempts to unify party failed after the then CPN Maoist leader Mohan Baidhya questioned the huge gap between the two parties regarding policy and practice.

Gautam also said that there were some issues that were delaying party unification. However, he did not mention those issues. He also criticised the government for its undemocratic ways and for showing the lust for power.

Gautam handed over the Hriday Chandra Singh Pradhan journalism award, established in memory of progressive litterateur and journalist Pradhan to columnist Krishna Murari Bhandari .

Likewise, the Agni Shikha journalism award went to radio journalist Raghu Mainali, journalism award established in memory of Dekendra Thapa to journalists Siddharaj Rai and Janak Nepal and Birendra Shaha journalism award to journalists Mandira Thapa and Bhushan Yadav

UML’s leader Yogesh Bhattarai said that after the unification, the senior leaders will be managed on the basis of the UML’s experience of democratic practice since its establishment.

Columnist Bhandari suggested that UML leaders refrain from arrogance after attaining power.