Kathmandu, September 23:

Ministers and royalists leaders today said that King Gyanendra’s visit to Lalitpur was his reply to the political parties and their movement. Addressing a talk programme, organised by Media Group Nepal, Minister for Agriculture and Co-operative Badri Prasad Mandal said that the huge crowds yesterday proved the public interest in the monarchy. “Some people may have been brought from villages, but even the conscious citizens from urban areas were also there to welcome the King,” he said. According to Mandal, the king only wants peace and has expressed willingness to talk to the political parties while stressing commitment and honour to the Constitution.

Mandal added that Dr Tulasi Giri’s utterances on the Constitution were reasonable and thought-provoking. “Dr Giri’s recent statement was a treatment of what the parties were saying. While the parties themselves are demanding a new constitution, they were hurt when Dr Giri said the same.” The minister said that Dr Giri had the freedom to express himself and in a democratic environment, people should have patience to listen to others too.