“BP practiced democracy by giving opportunities to women, Dalits and all communities: Gagan Thapa

Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that the political parties have not been able to adequately discuss the important issues concerning the citizens.

Speaking at a programme organized on the occasion of the 44th BP Memorial Day in the capital today, Thapa said BP had practiced inclusive democracy through actions rather than words.

He said, “If you leave social justice, if you leave human welfare, if you leave the welfare of the people, if you leave the moral rights and moral issues, if you leave the question of whether development will be sustainable or not, then BP not only discussed the matter but also practiced it himself.” ’

According to him, BP clearly believed that democracy would not be complete without social justice, human welfare and participation of all communities. “Through his political life, BP has shown in practice the message that sustainable development would not be possible if moral values and citizen’s interest were ignored in the development process,” he said.

According to him, BP had given opportunity to women in the Council of Ministers, appointed Dalit leader as the party’s general secretary and included various castes, languages and communities in state structures at a time when women’s political participation was limited in South Asia.

He said, “BP Koirala taught us that if Nepal’s democracy moves ahead without being inclusive, then democracy will not be complete by including a woman in his cabinet, or by making a representative of a Dalit the general secretary of the party, or by making everyone speaking all castes and languages in the parliament or minister.” ’

According to him, although the terminology of climate change was not in vogue at that time, BP has presented the basis of sustainable development by linking development, human welfare, social justice and moral responsibility.

The first people-elected Prime Minister of Nepal and founding leader of Nepali Congress, BP Koirala said the concepts propounded by democratic values, inclusion and social justice are equally relevant even today.