KATHMANDU, May 17: Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has spoken of the need of undoing the culture of groupism inside the party to ensure its strong presence. Inaugurating the 11th National General Convention of Democratic Thought Society amidst a program on Friday, the party president declared the strengthening of party would not be possible until those inside the party who won the elections and lost them joined hands for cooperation by accepting self-weaknesses.

The party experienced unexpected defeats in the election not only due to international reasons solely, but the unification between the two communist parties also had its role in the election results, he claimed. He viewed that the society should own up the responsibility of the defeat of Congress carrying and practising democratic ideologies in the elections and it should make efforts to disseminate the wave of democratic thought in the society. The party president spoke the need of intense unity within the party by eliminating the tendency of proving another failure. NC central member Krishna Prasad Sitaula claimed that government’s activities were incompatible with the interest of people. He went on to day that intra-party disputes affected the performance of Congress, underlining the need for unity within the party.

“The NC always stands with the principle of press freedom.” Party central leader Arjun Narsingh KC accused the incumbent government of intending to pursue a path of anarchism in the clothes of democracy. “The bills relating to media council, human rights and national security council are designed to seize the State power”. Another leader Laxman Prasad Ghimire pointed out the need of starting a nationwide discourage on democracy, nationality and socialism, the party agenda.

Society chair Dr Kedar Narsingh KC was of the view that intra-party differences would not do good for the party, adding that the party aspired to move ahead by taking all forces carrying democratic ideologies together. Society senior vice-chair Kul Chandra Wagle was of the view that it was not relevant to go for the awareness campaign by making the departments and sister organisations vacant.

Society former chair Prof Dr Chandralal Shrestha, Nepal Bar Association’s general secretary Laxman Poudel, former lawmaker Sakaldev Sutiyar, Nepal Teachers’ Association chair Rajendra Paudel and Nepal Press Union’s treasurer Saroj Adhikari, among others accused the government of trying to suppress the people’s rights, seeking an unity among the democratic forces to fight against government’s unwanted activities. On the occasion, journalist and politician Nutan Thapaliya was awarded the ‘Democratic Fighter Honor carrying a cash prize of Rs 25000 and a copper plaque.

The society that was established in 2052 BS has so far expanded its branches to 47 districts, said society general secretary Gokarna Aryal. A total of 300 representatives from 41 districts are taking part in the two -day general convention. RSS

 
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