Kathmandu: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that communism has faded globally, and what remains in Nepal under the communist label no longer represents true communist ideology. Speaking at a public event, Deuba argued that Nepal’s current communist parties have essentially transformed into democrats by participating in the multi-party democratic system outlined in the constitution.

“There are no real communists in Nepal anymore,” Deuba asserted, noting that while communism has disappeared around the world, ironically, its presence in Nepal appears to be growing. However, he clarified that the communists of today are not like those of the past, saying, “They have become democrats. Today’s communists cannot be called communists.”

Deuba emphasized that the shift to multi-party democracy by Nepal's communist parties signifies a departure from their original ideology. “They have come under the present constitution and adapted to democratic norms,” he said, adding that only the name "communist" remains and even that, in his view, should eventually change.

Reflecting on his personal political journey, Deuba credited his teacher for guiding him toward the Nepali Congress and democratic ideals. “I became a democrat because of my teacher,” he said. “Many became members of Akhil (a student wing of communist parties) due to teachers. Teachers have a great influence because children follow what teachers tell them.”

He clarified that he was not urging teachers to make students support only the Congress, but rather to help them understand what is good and relevant in the present context. “What a child knows, what’s right or wrong—it's often what the teacher says,” Deuba remarked. “Even when I was a teacher, I became a democrat. I became a communist because of a teacher.”

In conclusion, Deuba reiterated that Nepal’s so-called communists are now essentially part of the democratic system, suggesting that the only change left is to abandon the label of 'communist' altogether.