KATHMANDU: Former Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala has called for restraint and consensus within the party, urging leaders to avoid deepening internal divisions over the party’s upcoming general convention.
Speaking at the central committee meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Koirala highlighted that even the sentiments of leaders demanding a special convention should be accommodated to reach a unanimous solution. “Now is not the time to push for a special convention,” he said, adding that trust and inclusivity are key to maintaining party cohesion.
Focusing on the party’s larger mission, Koirala highlighted the need to uphold B.P. Koirala’s vision of social justice and an equitable society, stressing that internal disputes must be managed with tolerance, co-existence, and strategic conflict resolution.
He also stressed the importance of a unified Nepali Congress to guide the country in its current complex political environment. “While Nepali Congress undergoes internal transformation, it is also responsible for leading the country in the right direction,” he said. “The general election on March 5 is crucial, and Nepali Congress must participate actively to strengthen democratic processes.”
Dr. Koirala called on the government to ensure a safe, fear-free environment for elections. He urged pressure to be applied on authorities to recover weapons seized by the police and return escapee detainees to custody.
Reflecting on the recent Gen-Z protests, he said, “Only the government changed; the Constitution remains intact. The elected House of Representatives on March 5 can consider amendments to address the demands of the youth movement.”
Dr. Koirala also emphasized that while navigating elections, the party must safeguard the current Constitution, federal structure, inclusive representation, population-based representation, and press freedom. He further highlighted the Nepali Congress’s role in enhancing government delivery capacity, generating employment, and strengthening diplomatic ties with neighboring countries.
Reflecting on past unrest on September 8 and 9, Dr. Koirala questioned why violence erupted despite previous assurances after the 2006 movement that no blood should be shed. He demanded accountability for attacks on historical institutions like Singh Durbar, the Supreme Court, and Sheetal Niwas, as well as assaults on political leaders’ residences, including his own father Krishna Prasad Koirala’s residence in Biratnagar.
Condemning attacks on private property, media houses, and commercial establishments, he described the assaults on Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and his family as reprehensible and inhumane. Dr. Koirala called for impartial investigations into the incidents to uncover the truth.
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