PATAN: The Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress has been postponed until October 30 following the demise of senior party leader Rishikesh Gautam.
According to Party Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel, the meeting was postponed to mourn the passing of Gautam, a former central member, former minister, founding central member of the Nepal Students’ Union, and former Congress district president of Bara. He passed away at the age of 84 at his private residence in Pepsi-Cola, Kathmandu, at 9:15 PM on October 17.
Paudel stated that the committee expressed deep sorrow over Gautam’s death and passed a condolence motion in his honor. Gautam had served as Congress president of Bara district from 2036 to 2048 BS, was elected as a Member of Parliament from Bara Constituency No. 3 in 2048 and 2056 BS, and also served as the party’s parliamentary secretary.
He spent several years in prison during Nepal’s democratic movements and struggles for the establishment and restoration of democracy. Paudel added that Gautam played a leading role in building the party organization and advancing Nepal’s democratic causes through various responsibilities he held within the party.
Expressing profound condolences to the bereaved family, the Nepali Congress stated that the party has lost a senior and experienced leader.
To honor the late Gautam, the party decided to lower its flags to half-mast at central, provincial, and district offices from October 18 to 20, close all offices October 19, keep condolence books for 13 days, and organize a memorial gathering in the respective district on the 13th day of mourning.
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