Kathmandu: Leaders and cadres have extended condolences to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda over the death of Sita Dahal, his wife.
Dahal passed away Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s complications at the Norvic International Hospital at Thapathali in Kathmandu. She was 69.
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed sorrow over her demise. In a condolence message, Deuba wished for eternal peace of the departed soul and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members including PM Dahal. Likewise, Sushil Koirala Memorial Foundation extended sorrow over the demise of Sita Dahal. A press release issued by Foundation President and former General-Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Dr Sashank Koirala, expressed the deepest condolences to the bereaved family members including Prime Minister.
Nepali Congress leader Dr Minendra Rijal visited the Maoist Centre central office in Parisdanda to pay tributes to late Dahal. He said the passing away of Dahal was a great loss to the Prime Minister and his family. He also extended heartfelt condolences to the entire bereaved family. “We could empathize with the Prime Minister and the entire bereaved family in these hours of grief,” he said. He also recalled the contribution of Dahal to the Maoist movement and Nepali politics.
Leaders and cadres of Maoist Centre recalled her as the party’s guardian with abilities to bring together all party leaders and cadres, and help save them from a crisis and difficulties. They also defined her as a true advisor to Prime Minister Dahal having played a key role in making him what he is today. “She played multiple characters within the party ranging from being a guardian to an advisor to the party and Prachanda. She played a role of bringing all party leaders and cadres together and saving the party during hard times,” said Haribol Gajurel, Maoist Center leader who is also the PM’s political advisor. He praised the role of Sita for the party, and during political movements. “Apart from her roles in the private sphere, she (Sita) played a warrior in making the chair’s role effective, and advancing party movements. She helped Prachanda, and had abilities to freely and directly put up her views and provide suggestion.”
Stating that her contributions to the party were incomparable, he said her demise was an irreparable loss to the party. The Maoist Centre central member Kalpana Dhamala remembered her as the party’s guardian. “Today we lost our guardian,” she said. Former minister Shashi Shrestha also praised her for her contribution in making Pushpa Kamal as ‘Prachanda’.
Former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, the House Speaker, leaders from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, different provincial governments and others have expressed deep condolences and grief over the demise of Sita Dahal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and expressed sincere condolences to PM Prachanda. “Extremely saddened to learn about the demise of Mrs. Sita Dahal. I express my sincere condolences to @cmprachanda and pray that the departed soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti,” Indian PM tweeted.
The death of her son and daughter had dealt a grievous blow to Sita Dahal, the calm lady, who supported her husband during the Maoist war. The Maoist cadres and supporters describe her as a mother figure.
Dahal’s body was cremated at the Pashupati Crematorium amidst state honors on Wednesday. Leaders from various political parties and other walks of life paid last tributes to Sita Dahal at the crematorium.
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