KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has expressed profound grief over the tragic self-immolation of Ganesh Nepali, describing it as a painful wake-up call for society, the state, and the collective consciousness of the nation.

Extending his deepest condolences and tributes to the bereaved family, Thapa urged the public and political spheres to refrain from turning the tragedy into a political blame game.

He emphasized that the incident transcends politics, touching upon human sensibility, a citizen’s life, and a family’s unimaginable grief.

Thapa appealed to everyone to focus on how to collectively support and provide relief to the dependent family members of the deceased.

Instead of debating historical or political fault lines, Thapa stressed that this tragedy must be taken as a moment for honest, systemic introspection.

He raised hard-hitting questions about why a young citizen was pushed to such absolute despair that they felt compelled to set themselves on fire just to be heard.

Thapa questioned why state mechanisms—which are meant to provide citizens with a sense of security and hope—leave individuals feeling so entirely helpless, calling on society, families, and the state to examine where they have failed.

Achieving an honest answer to these questions and ensuring no other citizen is forced down this path is the only true tribute to Ganesh Nepali, Thapa added.