Ex-King Gyanendra laments "attacks on Nepal's sovereignty"
KATHMANDU: Former King Gyanendra Shah on Tuesday expressed his concerns over ongoing political activities, claiming that they were targeted at weakening Nepal's sovereignty and foiling unity among the people here.
Issuing a press statement on the eve of Prithvi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of King Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified various principalities into the one nation as Nepal over 200 years ago, the last monarch of Shah dynasty said attacks on Nepal's sovereignty and integrity were unforgivable crimes against the nation and its people.
"Having nationality, national unity and social harmony in crisis is a matter of serious concern to all patriot Nepalis," he said, "Attempts are going on to topple foundations of language, religion, culture and national identity."
Meanwhile, Shah reminded that he had left the Royal Palace nine years ago considering the "contemporary situations" as traditions had it that the people's wishes were the King's wishes.
In an apparent warning to the parties that joined hands to abolish the monarchy but failed to establish political stability till today, he said, "We, however, have not ever felt that we are aloof from our responsibilities towards people and the nation, nor will ever feel so."
"We have arrived at the moment when we are worried if Nepal will ever be made, ever be saved," he said, "The nation is not anyone's playground, it cannot be so and should not be made so."
"We are heading towards further deprivation while the world community is competing for prosperity... While the nationalist sentiments are being revived in the world, we are showing behaviours which have put the existence of our nation in a danger," he said.
"Such sad and ironic situation must end."
In the statement, Shah has also attributed Nepal's identity and existing social harmony to the "struggle, leadership skills and farsightedness of King Prithvi Narayan Shah as well as Nepali people's collective support to him and the bravery of army."
With public holiday on the day and paying tributes to the founding father of modern Nepal, Poush 27 of Nepali calendar was marked as Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day till 2007 when the interim government decided not to observe King Prithvi Narayan Shah's birth anniversary.
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