Kathmandu, June 7
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Ananda Pokharel, said on Tuesday that last rites of maestro Amber Gurung, lyricist, singer and composer, will be performed with state honors.
Minister Pokharel told this to media after paying tributes to Gurung, the composer of Nepal’s national anthem, who was also involved in the creation of some of Nepal’s most popular songs as lyricist, composer and singer, at Nepal Academy.
Government ministers and leaders of political parties reached the academy to pay their last respects to Gurung. Chitra Bahadur KC, Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, said Ambar Gurung will remain immortal. He (Amber Gurung) lives in the heart of every Nepali, KC said, adding: He has made a huge contribution to Nepali music.
Jhala Nath Khanal, senior leader of the CPN-UML, also said Amber Gurung has achieved immortality. His contribution to Nepal and Nepali music is unforgottable, Khanal said. He paid heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.
With Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli busy attending a programme in Surkhet, last rites of Gurung have been delayed. The Cabinet, which takes a final call on state honors, has no meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Responding to a query, Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi told Onlinekhabar: There’s no Cabinet meeting scheduled for today.
He said the Home Ministry is supposed to handle the matter (of state honors).
Yadav Koirala, spokesperson for the ministry, said: The Cabinet can take a formal decision on state honors tomorrow (on Wednesday), a day after performing Amber Gurung’s last rites with state honors.
Efforts to contact Home Minister Shakti Basnet for comments failed. A source said Minister Basnet is busy in a meeting with Home Secretary Narayan Malego.
Gurung, suffering from health conditions like hypertension, diabetes and Parkinsonism, died in course of treatment on Tuesday morning. His body will be kept at the academy till 3 pm to enable people to pay their last respects. The body of Gurung, honorary colonel of the Nepal Army, will be taken to Pashupati Aryaghat for last rites later in the day.
