The party has split, it is unfortunate. But the Congress should be united again: Former General Secretary Shashank Koirala
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Leaders from outside the Nepali Congress have urged the leadership to end the divisions within the party and unite the party.
The Koshi Province-level gathering held in Biratnagar on Sunday raised the issue of unity, cooperation within the party and the need to make the upcoming 15th general convention fair and inclusive. Chief guest of the gathering and Congress leader Shekhar Koirala reminded that the Nepali Congress was established to end democracy and autocracy, and said that consensus, cooperation and unity within the party are indispensable. 'The Congress cannot move forward without unity. If the Congress becomes weak, democracy also becomes weak,' he said, 'I will not let the party split and the party will not split, you can be sure.'
Koirala said that the Congress cannot go much further in the current situation and the party should be united, keeping in mind the local and provincial elections. He also warned against the tendency to pursue populism.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Congress leader Vijay Kumar Gachhadar said that both the country and democracy are in crisis, and claimed that the Biratnagar gathering sent a message of unity. He urged the Congress to move forward by including all the parties and called on General Secretary Gagan Thapa to end the division within the party. 'Yesterday, the Congress, which was not afraid of the Panchayat, is afraid of its own leaders today,' he said, 'Make the Congress one and take it forward.'
Former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that a divided Congress cannot save the nation. 'An unstoppable Congress cannot hold the country together,' he said, 'The country, the constitution, democracy and nationality are in crisis. Only by following the path of unity will both the country and the party become strong.'
Former General Secretary Shashank Koirala said that they cannot accept the situation of the Congress being divided. 'The party has split, this is unfortunate. But the Congress should be united again,' he said. He said that if the Congress is united, it can return to its previous strength and status.
Former central member NP Saud said that they have come together not for positions but out of concern for the future of the party. He said that the special general convention had given the party the responsibility of uniting it and that everyone should be given equal opportunities for the 15th general convention.
Former Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet accused the current leadership of taking the party to a weak point in history. He claimed that discrimination was being made in the renewal of active membership and that efforts were being made to sideline old and established leaders.
Leader Minendra Rijal reminded that the party has survived despite repeated crises in the 80-year history of the Congress. 'We are not in one place now,' he said, 'The only way out is through a path that respects everyone.' He said that everyone should be won over to win the Congress.
Former central member Bal Bahadur KC pointed out the need for the Congress to be united, saying that the country was heading towards a serious political crisis. 'The country runs on the constitution, the Congress on the statute,' he said.
Leader Ramhari Khatiwada commented that factionalism within the party and mutual accusations made through social media have weakened not only the Congress but also democracy, nationality and the rule of law. "If the internal strife does not end, the Congress may face a humiliating defeat in the upcoming elections," he said.
Koshi Province Congress General Secretary Bhupendra Rai said the gathering was organized for greater unity. He said that attempts to capture the party would not be acceptable and that the 15th general convention should be a convention of unity.
