The relationship between Bhattarai and NC soured so much so that the former declined the party´s request to attend its 12th general convention last September. Instead, Bhattarai sent an angry written message to the general convention that the party leaders didn´t even read out. [break]
The difference between Bhattarai, the fierce supporter of constitutional monarchy, and a republican NC had become irreconcilable, but only so long as he was alive. Once dead Bhattarai symbolized, more than anything else, a long struggle for democracy and a life of integrity and probity. No party wants to disassociate itself from that rich legacy. And NC has embraced Bhattarai in his death wholeheartedly.
In a moment charged with emotions, NC President Sushil Koirala draped the body of late Bhattarai with the party´s flag, Saturday. All NC Central Working Committee (CWC) members and the party lawmakers had reached Bandegaun to offer last tributes to late Bhattarai.
An emergency meeting of the NC´s CWC held Saturday morning at the Ashram of late Bhattarai at Bandegaun, Lalitpur, where his dead body was kept for paying last respects, decided to lower the party´s flag to half mast and close its offices across the country and liaison offices abroad for 13 days.
The NC decided not to organize any formal functions during the period. Condolence books will be kept at the party´s offices across the country and abroad for 13 days to offer condolences to the saint leader.
The NC CWC meeting has also decided to organize a condolence meeting in all 72 districts across the country on March 16. The NC district committees in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur will organize a similar condolence meeting at Tundikhel on the day.
The CWC meeting also decided to take Bhattarai´s ashes to all 75 districts on the 13th day of his death.
The body of late Bhattarai will be kept at the party´s headquarters in Sanepa from 8 am to 10 am Sunday and then it will be brought to Dasharath Stadium for commoners to pay final tributes to this democracy icon.
The funeral process will begin from Dasharath Stadium at 2 in the afternoon. The funeral procession will begin from Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar and pass by New Road gate, Bir Hospital, Ratnapark, Bagbazar, Dilli Bazar, Old Baneshwar, and Gaushala before finally converging at Pashupati Aryaghat, according to the decision made by NC CWC meeting.
His last rites will be performed with state honor as his capacity as two-time prime minister of the country.
BHATTARAI´S AIDS INITIALLY OBJECTED TO NC´S EMBRACE
Sources said late Bhattarai´s personal aide Amita Kapali stood firmly against taking his body to the NC´s headquarters alleging that the party had abandoned Bhattarai for the past several years. Kapali had also sought apology from the party president, Sushil Koirala, for the party´s failure to read out Bhattarai´s message at the party´s 12th General Convention held in Kathmandu in September, 2010.
Kapali, who took care of Bhattarai for the past several years, had finally agreed to take Bhattarai´s body to the NC´s headquarters after Koirala acknowledged the mistakes before her. NC leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka and Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, who were close to Bhattarai, had also persuaded Kapali to let his body be taken to the party´s office in Sanepa.
Earlier on Friday night, Kapali had even denied senior NC leaders to board the truck that ferried Bhattarai´s body to Badegaun, Lalitpur, after doctors at Norvic Hospital pronounced Bhattarai dead. Only Kapali and Bhattarai´s long time confidant P L Singh were on board the truck.
Acknowledging Kapali´s contribution in Bhattarai´s life, the NC meeting held at Badegaun extended special gratitude to Amita Kapali for taking care of Bhattarai for the past several years and extended gratitude to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Speaker Subash Nembang and political party leaders who showed their concern over Bhattarai´s health condition and wished for his speedy recovery.
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