KIRTIPUR (KATHMANDU), May 17: People across Nepal today observe the 32nd memorial day of Nepali Communist Party (UML) leaders Jibaraj Ashrit and Madan Kumar Bhandari through various programs.
Under the chief patronage of Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, organizers will hold a wreath-laying ceremony and a memorial assembly at Madan Bhandari's statue in Madan Nagar, Balkhu. UML Politburo member Krishna Gopal Shrestha said Madan Bhandari led the effort to establish the UML central office in Balkhu.
After the 1990 People's Movement (BS 2046) succeeded, the party temporarily operated its central office at the house of Nepali Communist Party founder Narayan Vilas Joshi in Bagbazar, Kathmandu. Later, the party shifted its office to Balkhu.
The 2015 earthquake (BS 2072) damaged the central office building beyond use, forcing the party to demolish it. Madan Bhandari's statue now stands in the middle of that complex.
32nd International Day of Persons with Disabilities being obser...
Since then, UML moved its office several times between Dhumbarahi and Thapathali. Currently, the party's central office operates from the Tulsilal Memorial Foundation in Chyasal.
On Madan Ashrit Memorial Day, the Balkhu office and Madan Bhandari's statue there take on special importance.
PM Oli pays tributes to Madan Bhandari and Jibaraj Ashrit
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli paid his respects to former CPN (UML) General Secretary and people's leader Madan Bhandari and Organization Department Chief Jibaraj Ashrit.
Today, Prime Minister Oli paid heartfelt tribute and expressed high regard for Madan and Ashrit through social media. He wrote, "We bow our heads in the sacred memory of Madan-Ashrit. Their ideas and guidance will always inspire us. I pay my heartfelt tribute and highest respect to Madan-Ashrit."
Prime Minister Oli recalled that 32 years ago today, the nation lost the people's leader Bhandari and skilled organizer Ashrit. He said, "People's leader Madan Bhandari led the guiding principle of people's multi-party democracy that paved the way for successful democratic change."
Former UML General Secretary Bhandari and Organization Department Chief Ashrit died in a jeep accident on May 16, 1993 (BS 2050 Jestha 3) at Dasdhunga, Chitwan.
