Kathmandu: Israel has handed over the rare speech of BP Koirala, a towering personality of Nepal’s democratic movement and first people’s elected representative, to President Ramchandra Paudel as a ‘gift’. Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, Hanan Goder, handed over the written speech of late leader BP Koirala to President Paudel at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas, on Tuesday.
Nepali Congress was marking 110th birth anniversary of late BP Koirala, the founding leader of the party, by organizing BP Literary festival in the capital. The final day program was put off following the demise of Constituent Assembly chairperson Subash Nembang on Tuesday.
Nepal-Israel diplomatic relation was established during the premiership of leader Koirala in 1960. At a time when the entire world was yet to accept Israel as an independent state established in 1948, BP had acknowledged Israel as an independent state. After the establishment of diplomatic ties, BP Koirala, as the chief guest, had addressed the ‘International Conference on Role of Science in the Advancement of New States’ on August 15, 1960. That very speech was handed over to President Paudel on Tuesday. Ambassador Goder shared that he searched BP Koirala’s speech with keen interest and long effort. He further shared happiness to get opportunity to hand over the rare speech to the President, who is the disciple of Koirala.
On the occasion, President Paudel thanked Ambassador Goder for providing such rare historical document. “The third world countries have not accepted democracy for economic development due to different context. Therefore, it is necessary to have debate whether economic development is possible in democratic system or authoritarian system,” late Koirala has stated in the speech, adding, “For lack of real opposition and psychological perfection, tyranny is popular even after freedom. The slow progress and struggling democratic system provides opportunity to authoritarianism, thereby inviting people’s aspiration for development.”
Moreover, President Paudel expressed happiness over Israel’s assistance to Nepal in agriculture and cooperative sectors.
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