Kathmandu, June 28

A variety of programmes are being held today to mark the 69th birth anniversary of popular leader late Madan Bhandari. The programmes will be held taking preventive measures considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party Chair KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to address a special programme to be held at the Prime Minister’s residence under the auspices of the Madan Bhandari Foundation this afternoon. It may be noted that the NCP’s standing committee meeting for today was postponed as it coincided with the birth anniversary of late Bhandari. The foundation has been organising a variety of programmes including planting of tree and fruit saplings, distributing fruits and seeds, and helping the poor, daily wage labourers, landless settlers, people with disabilities and senior citizens since June 21, said Secretary Pemba Lama. Likewise, various awareness-oriented programmes are planned to be held virtually including the establishment of a Madan Bhandari Blood Donation Fund, interaction of ‘janatako bahudaliya janabad’ founded by Bhandari and creative programmes on nationality, democratic republic and livelihood, governance, organisation mobilization etc. Born in Dhungesanghu of Taplejung on 14 Asar, 2009 B.S., then General Secretary of the CPN-UML Madan Bhandari died in a mysterious jeep accident at Dasdhunga of Chitwan on 3 Jeth, 2050 B.S., along with organisation department chief of the party Jeevraj Ashrit.