Former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala died at 80; Narendra Modi calls him India’s valued friend

Kathmandu : Former Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala, who spent 16 years in exile in India, died at the age of  80 on Tuesday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has lost a valued friend.

Sushil Koirala, who was also president of the Nepali Congress (NC), died at his residence in Kathmandu’s Maharajgunj area. He died at 12.50 a.m. due to failure of his respiratory system the doctor said.

Koirala, who was the prime minister of Nepal from February 11, 2014, to October 10, 2015, will be remembered as the leader under whose leadership Nepal promulgated the new constitution through the constituent assembly in September 2015.

Koirala, who spent 16 years in India in exile during the pro-democracy movement in Nepal, was a survivor of tongue and lung cancers.

“Nepal has lost a powerful voice and a wonderful human being”, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

India condoled his death, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying “India lost a valued friend”.

“In Sushil Koirala ji, NC has lost a big leader who served Nepal for decades and India lost a valued friend. Pained by his demise. RIP.”

Modi said in a series of tweets, that “Sushil Koirala ji’s simplicity holds lessons for all of us. My condolences to the Koirala family and people of Nepal in this hour of grief,”

“He was Nepal’s one of the most seasoned politicians and also a true statesman.”

Koirala’s death comes a serious blow to the NC that is scheduled to hold its 13th general assembly in March 2016.

Hundreds of Nepali Congress leaders and supporters gathered at his Maharajgunj residence to offer condolence to the leader. NC senior leader and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said he was shocked by Koirala’s death.