Former Speaker Dhungana cremated with state honors

KATHMANDU: Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana was cremated with state honors at Pashupati Aryaghat crematorium on Monday

A unit of the Nepal Army presented a guard of honor as Dhungana’s funeral pyre was lit.

Dhungana passed away at Frontline Hospital in Old Baneshwar Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon. He was receiving treatment for liver ailments.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana, Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, parliamentarians, political leaders and members of the public were present on the occasion.

Dhungana was a lifelong advocate for democracy, human rights and the multiparty system in Nepal. He played a crucial role in ending the Maoist armed conflict and restoring peace. Known for his forthright criticism of political misconduct, he was an expert in constitutional and legal matters.

He was the first Speaker of the House of Representatives after the political change of 1990. He, however, gave up active politics with the Nepali Congress after suffering a defeat in the 1994 general election.

Dhungana had recently been engaging with legal experts and political figures to discuss constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening federalism and ending political instability.