Jhapa, April 22:

People of eastern Nepal are not taking King Gyanendra’s Friday proclamation seriously. Most people in Jhapa reacted pessimistically, saying it was nothing but a ploy to fool both the international community and Nepali people.

District president of NC Sudhir Siwakoti said the proclamation failed to address people’s issue and that it was a conspiracy to create divisions in the seven-party alliance.’He added that the agitation would be continued in Jhapa.

Jhapa district committee secretary of CPN-UML, Devendra Dahal, said the agitation would continue. Chairman of the Jhapa chapter of the Nepal Bar Association Ashok Pokharel said that the King’s address could never offer a way out of the nation’s crisis.

Chairman of Nepal Human Rights Organisation, Jhapa Lila Sapkota advised everyone to be aware of the “King’s conspiracy”.

President of the Jhapa chapter of the FNJ Krishna Humagain said, “This is an attempt by

the King to stifle the ongoing movement. I urge one and all to continue the agitation with more vigour.”Advocate Naresh Barma warned the political parties that a people’s movement would be launched against them if they accepted the King’s offer.

“The King’s address has no meaning for the general people and does not provide any solution to the country’s problems,” chief of Mechi Multiple Campus Tika Pyakurel said.

“Had the proclamation come two weeks ago, it might have been effective. If parties accept the King’s proposal, the people will launch a movement against the parties and the Maoists also might further distance themselves from democratic principles,”editor of daily Bibechana, Nakul Kaji, said.Narayan Parajuli of HUREK Nepal, Jhapa, said the address was only a continuation of other royal proclamations.

Meanwhile, local media persons burnt a copy of the royal proclamation at Birtamod.