Kathmandu, August 3:

Rights activist Krishna Pahadi today said the government is exhibiting its pro-palace nature.

Addressing an interaction organised by Citizens’ Movement for Peace and Democracy (CMPD), he said those in the government have clearly shown that they are not interested in institutionalising a republican set-up in the country, as per the people’s aspirations expressed through the 19-day mass movement, but are protecting the King from people’s wrath. The interaction was part of CMPD’s preparations for a mass meeting at Basantapur on August 6.

“We, civil society, are not against the political parties. But we only warn them that they lack the willpower to follow the people’s mandate and have decided to take to the streets to encourage the parties to go to the public and take the people’s voice in the government,” he said. He also said the parliament’s recent declaration of letting the eldest child of a King to ascend the throne is unacceptably regressive at a time when question is being raised over a son’s possibility of ascending to throne.

Shyam Shrestha, another civil society member, said the talks between the government and the Maoists are on the brink of collapse due to the double standard and dogmatic mentality of the seven parties. “Talks may come to an end any day if the parties fail to make a single vision on the issue of arms management, Parliament and the future of monarchy,” he said.