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Former Speaker Dhungana cremated with state honours

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November 18,2024

Kathmandu, Nov 18: Former Speaker Damannath Dhungana was cremated with state honours at Aryaghat in Pashupatinath this afternoon. On that occasion, a contingent of the Nepali Army offered a 17-gun funeral salute in honor of the late Dhungana.

His sons lit the funeral pyre. Former Speaker Dhungana, who had been undergoing treatment for liver related problems for some time, passed away at the age of 83 at the Frontline Hospital in Baneshwar on Sunday afternoon. Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Chairman of the National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, leaders and cadres of various political parties, MPs and people from various walks of life had reached Aryaghat to pay tribute to former Speaker Dhungana.

Leaders of various political parties, including the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Nepali Congress President, the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair, among others, went to Sano Gaucharan and paid their respects to him. The government had decided to conduct his last rites with state honours today. Respecting his contribution, the government has also given a public holiday for today.

Dhungana, who advocated for multi-party system, democracy, peace and human rights in Nepal, played an important role in ending the past Maoist armed conflict and restoring peace in the country. He was well versed in the constitution and laws, who clearly and truthfully pointed out the distortions and discrepancies seen in the political field.

After being elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu Constituency No. 2 in 2048 BS, he became the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has made a great contribution to institutionalize parliamentary system and the democratic values in Nepal. Dhungana, who was also a member of the commission formed for drafting the Constitution of 2047 BS, had been holding discussions with legal experts and political personalities for the amendment of the current constitution to strengthen the federalism and end the political instability in the country.