Government decides to give state funeral to late Koirala

Kathmandu / February 9: The meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to perform the last rites of Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala with state honour.

The emergency meeting of the Cabinet held at Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar this morning has directed the Ministries of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence to make necessary arrangements for Koirala’s funeral rites including the offering of gun salutes.

Similarly, the meeting has decided to give a public holiday on Wednesday and to fly the national flag at half mast for three days from February 9 to 11 at government offices across the nation and at the embassies and diplomatic missions abroad as well.

The meeting paid heartfelt tributes on the demise of Koirala and stated that Government of Nepal was shocked by his death. The meeting remembered the late Koirala as a democracy fighter, senior politician, former Prime Minister and the main opposition leader.

The Cabinet meeting states, “His role and contribution to Nepal’s democratic movement will always be memorable. Nepal and Nepalis would always remember the incomparable contribution of Koirala, who was always devoted for nation, people, freedom and norms and values of democracy, in the constitution writing process.”

Informing about the Cabinet meeting decisions, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Agni Prasad Kharel, said that the government has extended condolences to the bereaved family, relatives, well wishers and the Nepali Congress during the hour of sorrow.

The government expressed the belief that it would be a true condolence to late Koirala if all follow his faith, sacrifice and good aspects of his struggle in life.

Similarly, the meeting also decided not to organise any official programmes from February 9-11, and to make arrangement for keeping condolence book at the Foreign Ministry as well as at the Nepali Embassy and missions in foreign countries on February 11 and 12.

Responsibility has been given to Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet to make overall preparation and coordination for performing the last rites of Koirala with state honours. RSS