KATHMANDU: Nepal’s decision alliance has called for the incarceration of former prince Gyanendra Shah, 78, after violence erupted during a pro-monarchy rally in which two people, including a journalist, were killed in Kathmandu next year. On Monday night, senior members of vital democratic parties met to arrange a combined response, vowing to support the national political system from what they described as an “organised attempt to destroy it”.
Speaking in parliament earlier on Monday, PM K P Sharma Oli accused Gyanendra of immediately instigating the turmoil. ” Just former king Gyanendra Shah may avoid responsibility for this crime. Those who say they will be prince suddenly and kill the system- should they not produce their views people on these incidents”? Oli said Gyanendra had met with opposition organisers, including questionable figures Durga Prasai and Navaraj Subedi, at Nirmal Niwas- Gyanendra’s personal property in Kathmandu- a moment before Friday’s demo. ” These activities will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken”, Oli said, referencing a video message released by Gyanendra on Nepal’s Democracy Day ( Feb 19 ) that he claimed incited royalist sentiments.
In the movie, Gyanendra said he had abdicated “in the greater interest of the land and the people”, calling it” a devotion, not a failure”. ” Politics now exists more in terms than in training”, he said, citing financial hardship, youth movement and a crisis in education. Urging national unity, he called on citizens to” correct past mistakes” and added,” I am ready to make any sacrifice for the country”. No official case, charge, or arrest order has yet been issued against Gyanendra.
On Monday night, senior members of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN ( Maoist Centre ), Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, CPN ( Unified Socialist ), and Nepal Samajbadi Party convened to address the unrest. Home minister Ramesh Lekhak said the parties had reached a joint conclusion to protect the constitution. ” The current system of governance was achieved through a long struggle. No anti-constitutional activities will be tolerated”, he said. CPN ( Maoist Centre ) deputy general secretary Shakti Basnet said:” It is time for political parties to engage in serious self-reflection regarding actions that might have hurt sentiments of the public”. Nepal Samajbadi Party chair and former PM Baburam Bhattarai said Gyanendra’s actions amounted to criminal incitement.
Meanwhile, Rastriya Prajatantra Party ( RPP ), which supports restoring the monarchy and was a part of the protest, condemned the remarks. Binay Rawal, central committee member, said,” We challenge govt to arrest the former king. We have been very clear that we should not drag the king into controversy and daily politics. The streets of Kathmandu echo with the voices of a frustrated nation- three decades of promises, yet the people still seek solace in their past. Also, these are the same people who were responsible for the killings of 17, 000 people during their armed war against the monarchy”.
