Octogenarian meets PM

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, July 7: Bir Singh Bhandari of Dogdakedar Rural Municipality-6, in Baitadi district, met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ for the first time at the Office of Prime Minister, Singha Durbar, in Kathmandu on Thursday. 

The 89-year-old, who used to visit Singha Durbar often with a hope of getting help from the government for the treatment of his 55-year-old son, is an example that a commoner could also meet the Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister Prachanda had a sitting with Bhandari as soon as he came to know that Bhandari actually wanted to meet him as per the concept of the new constitution which guarantees preferential treatment to senior citizens. 

Bhandari wanted to talk about individualism and problems seen in politics along with the treatment of his son. But he was in doubt if he was allowed to share such topics with the Prime Minister or not. Later, he was comforted by the staff and got to meet the Prime Minister.

Stating that he had been in favour of the multi-party democracy since 1958, he said that the political leaders still had old culture and tendencies even a long time after the restoration of multi-party system. “But, I have found Prime Minister Prachanda to be a different leader who can lead a country and have lots of hope from him,” he said to the Prime Minister.

Bhandari informed that his only son had disappeared during the conflict period and suddenly returned after 20 years suffering from a respiratory disease. His son’s name has been in the list of disappearance and he had made request to the concern bodies to remove his name and care about his treatment. He also informed that his son had been in India during the time and had contacted the family only after getting sick. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prachanda reassured Bhandari that the government would provide financial aid for his son’s treatment and instructed the members of the secretariat to take the necessary steps. 

Govinda Acharya, Press Advisor to the Prime Minister, informed that the Prime Minister had been listening and solving the problems of many people like Bhandari. He said that Bhandari had represented himself during the meeting as a soldier of good governance and prosperity.