KATHMANDU, MARCH 8
In the wake of former king Gyanendra Shah's recent participation in numerous public events, as well as the increasing public political activity of monarchy supporters, top leaders from both parties have taken jibe at it.
Recently, speaking at a program, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli challenged the former king to contest the election.
Addressing a program in Mahottari, Oli said, "Let's act according to the constitution. If the former king is popular, form a party and contest the election."
Similarly, former prime minister and CPN-MC Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, speaking to mediapersons at Garuda in Rautahat this morning as part of the 'Maoists with the People: Tarai Madhes Awareness Campaign,' stated, "While royalists are spreading rumours about bringing the king back to the country, this is impossible.
"Gyanendra has a history of making stupendous mistakes. I call it stupidity," Dahal said. "Now do not make the mistake of doing something stupid again and ruining your remaining reputation."
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Nepal Press Union here today, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stated that monarchy cannot be an alternative to the republic, as democracy cannot be replaced by autocracy.
Challenging the former king, Lekhak said, "The former monarch should engage in politics and contest elections openly if he was yearning for power."
He claimed that democracy has given permission for the current anti-democratic activities. "Monarchy is impossible because the science of social development states that society does not reverse its progress."
On Friday, Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated, "If it had happened somewhere else, the former king and members of the royal family would have been imprisoned."
Minister Gurung further said, "Nepal is a very liberal democratic country and the former king is being treated with respect. "He must not forget that."
"Now that the regime had been deposed and a new system established, the monarchy, the family, and the individuals who exploited the country and caused suffering to the people for 250 years deserved to be imprisoned. Their possessions should have been confiscated. But we have respected them."
Last Wednesday, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) held a rally in the federal capital Kathmandu calling for the restoration of the monarchy, the abolition of the provincial structure, and the establishment of a Sanatan Hindu state.
Monarchists claim that the video message released by former King Gyanendra Shah on Democracy Day this year has boosted the cause of restoring the monarchy. They claim that now is the high time to advance their cause, citing the former king's call to support him if we want to save the country.
Former king Shah, who said he had given up his position, comforts, and privileges for the good of the people, warned against thinking it was a weakness. In the message, Shah expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "Even though the country's system has changed, the citizens' conditions have not changed."
"We have already made sacrifices to solve national problems. We are now willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for Nepal's progress. This is the time to do so. If we want to save the nation, if we want to keep national unity, we urge all citizens to support us for the country's prosperity and progress," Shah said in his message.
Former King Shah has recently attended a number of public events ranging from Butwal to Pokhara, with organisers claiming a significant turnout of citizens.
Meanwhile, in an interview with BBC Hindi, RPP's senior vice president, Rabindra Mishra, stated that people in Nepal are disillusioned with the current system. "People are now reflecting on the past. After 17 years, king Gyanendra is no longer considered a villain in Nepal. Gyanendra now draws a crowd wherever he goes," he said.
"He aspires to be king, not leader. Nobody becomes king through electoral politics. This, I believe, is also in the interests of India. Anti-India sentiment has grown during Nepal's communist rule. People in Nepal are now taking to the streets in support of a monarchy," reads Mishra's statement in the BBC Hindi.
Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chair Rajendra Lingden has responded to anti-royalists' challenge to former king Gyanendra Shah to run in the election, claiming that they are enough.
Addressing a party event in Birgunj, he stated, "Now they are challenging the king to come and contest the election. I propose that we contest the election alongside you. The king will not run in the election. We are enough for you all."
