Last of the icons: Veteran Nepal leader GP Koirala passes away
20 Mar 2010
Kathmandu: Five-time prime minister of Nepal, an ex-Himalayan kingdom and lately a Republic, veteran politician and revered leader, Girija Prasad Koirala, passed away on Saturday at the age of 87. The cause of death is attributed to after multiple organ failure.
Koirala was a trusted friend of India and also the architect of the landmark peace deal with Maoists, which allowed this China-backed insurgent group to enter the political mainstream.
He passed away at 12.10 pm local time at his daughter, and deputy premier and foreign minister, Sujata Koirala's residence.
Koirala was the president of the Nepali Congress, a key constituent of the ruling CPN-UML-led coalition, and had close relations with the Indian political leadership across this country's political spectrum.
He will also be remembered as perhaps the last of the sub-continent's towering political leaders who had seminal roles to play in shaping the political destinies of their countries.
He had been ailing for a long period of time and was recently discharged from the Marty Ganga Lal Heart Centre here after showing signs of improvement. According to family sources, the veteran politician slipped into coma following a bout of diarrhoea.
