Pokhara, January 18

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has asked his party rank and file to stay prepared to save the nation.

“As the country is in crisis, we must be ready to save it, just like our party did in the past,” said the Congress leader, speaking at a condolence meeting to pay homage to late NC leader Shiva Kumar Adhikari here today.

Deuba accused the communist government of trying to impose totalitarianism. “In view of how the government is imposing totalitarianism going against democratic norms and values, it’s high time we prepared ourselves to fight against such ill intention of the government,” he told the cadres.

The NC leader admitted that the party had faced defeat in the past elections due to internal factionalism in the party and stressed the need to end the culture of factionalism. “It’s true that the party suffered hugely during the last elections due to lack of unity among us, but it’s time for us to stand united by forgetting the past. The party is committed to respecting the devoted party leaders and cadres,” he said, dwelling on the contribution Adhikari had made for the party.

Another NC leader and former deputy minister Gopalman Shrestha also spoke on the occasion and accused the government of failing to maintain peace and security and controlling price hike.

A brain tumour patient, Adhikari, a long-time NC leader and the first president of the then District Development Committee of Syangja died on December 25.