Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 5:

After a gap of almost two months, the pro-democracy agitating five parties today took out a

rally to protest the King’s ‘active role in politics’.

The rally, which went around the main thoroughfares of the capital, later converged into a mass meeting at Lagan where representatives of the various political parties denounced the King’s active role in politics.

“We accept that it is not the right time for the nation to go for a republican set-up, but the King should make democratic gestures to stop the persistent students’ demand for a republic,” politburo member of the Nepal Communist Party (UML), Jhalanath Khanal, said at the mass meeting.

Khanal claimed that the five party movement was meant to bring back peace and order in the country and resolve the protracted crisis that the nation has been going through. Narahari Acharya, central member of the Nepali Congress, said: “The King should be liberal in his actions and not only in promises made in speeches.” It is King’s October 4 move that will determine the future of monarchy, Acharya said.

“Our party demands the reinstatement of the parliament,” said Pari Thapa of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party.

Govinda Chaudhary of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandadevi) addressed the problems of the people of Terai. “The people of Terai have been dominated for 234 years, since the time of Prithvi Narayan Shah.”

The five-party alliance will hold a national meeting of people’s representatives of the now-defunct parliament and local government, on March 11 and 12.