PM Deuba unveils bust of the late Girija Prasad Koirala

Nepali Congress president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today unveiled a statue of the founding leader of the Nepal Trade Union Congress and former Prime Minister the late Girija Prasad Koirala.

The bust of the late leader is installed at the Girija Prasad Koirala Workers' Memorial Building, Anamnagar and it is unveiled coinciding with the late leader's 99th birth anniversary.

On the occasion, PM Deuba described the late Girija Prasad Koirala as an 'untiring and amiable' leader. "The late Koirala, who went through difficult ups and downs during his political career, has played an important role in establishing democracy in Nepal," PM Deuba said.

He said the government was positive regarding the construction of a historical museum at the Biratnagar Jute Mill in Biratnagar where the late Girijababu initiated the labour uprising.

The Prime Minister also recalled the late Girijababu's huge contribution to bringing the Maoist party which had started an armed rebellion to the peace process. "The politics of consensus, collaboration and unity brought forth by the late Girijababu is equally relevant these days as well," Deuba added.

Nepali Congress vice-president Dhanaraj Gurung said that Koirala had a pivotal role in bringing the nation to the peace process. He underscored the need of taking forward the present five-party coalition in the right way for safeguarding the constitution. Gurung remembered the late Koirala as an adept party organizer.

Party leader Sujata Koirala said the late Girijababu was a leader who empathized with the workers. She stressed conserving the historical articles in the Jute Mill at Biratnagar by building a museum in the name of the late leader.

Nepal Trade Union Congress president Pushkar Acharya opined that the Congress has been playing a significant role in protecting the rights and welfare of the workers. He expressed happiness to have gotten the opportunity to unveil the bust of the founding leader of the Nepal Trade Union Congress and former Prime Minister.

Twenty-seven various associations are affiliated with the Trade Union Congress which was established in 2047 BS, said Abhaya Kumar Rai, the vice-president of Nepal Trade Union Congress. It has 400 thousand members.

The statue was designed by sculptor Dharma Shakya of Patan Industrial Area.