KATHMANDU, May 6: Democratic leader Marshal Julum Shakya has passed away at 8:45 am today at Grande International Hospital located in the capital city.
Shakya, 77, had been suffering from heart and kidney ailments for a long time. He had been undergoing treatment at Intensive Care Unit of Grande Hospital.
He was admitted to Thapathali-based Norvic Hospital on March 3. After he failed to recuperate, he was referred to the Dhapasi-based Grande International Hospital.
Shakya undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital
He was actively involved in the democratic movement of Nepal.
Shakya served a 15-year-long jail term during Panchayat era. He also went underground for two years during the autocratic regime.
He is one of the founding members of Nepal Student Union(NSU), the sister organization of Nepali Congress, established in the 1970s.
He served as the chairperson of District Committee of Nepali Congress in the 1990s. During the democratic movement of 1990, he also played the role of convener of Central Action Commission(CEC) of Nepali Congress.
He was one of those who protested the ouster of democratically elected BP-led government by the then King Mahendra in 1960.
He also served as Minister for Commerce and Supplies in the interim government led by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in the 1990s.