GYANENDRA CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT DECISION ON MONARCHY

FORMER CALLS FOR IMPARTIAL, INDEPENDENT OPPORTUNITY DECIDE IMPORTANT ISSUES

By Bhola B. Rana


Kathmandu, 3 April: Former King Gyanendra has said people should get a ‘fair and independent opportunity’ to decide issues with long-term impact on the country without specifying the opportunity.
“People are the supreme judges. That’s why on issues that have long-term impact on the nation and people, people should be given an impartial and independent opportunity to decide.
“ In reality, this is real democracy. I am even now ready to accept the verdict of the people,” the former king told journalists last week at a reception by Prabhakar SJB Rana on the occasion of the rice- feeding ceremony of his grandson, Naya Patrika reports.
Monarchy was toppled and a republic was declared by a self-appointed unelected parliament.
The then king was responding to a question: Do you see the possibility of your return as king?
The country is passing through the most difficult time in its history, he said.
“It’s not hidden from everybody the country is passing through the most difficult phase in its history. Nobody should feel shy to fulfill his responsibility in such a time,’ the only person to be appointed king twice in the world said.
Gyanendra became king before his father Mahendra and brother Birendra.
The last king defended the royal takeover of 2005 and admitted he failed to win the support of the world capitals and people.
“… the step I took then was in the interest of the nation. I couldn’t get the support within the country and international community at that time. I couldn’t remind them why I took such a move.”
The former king implicitly criticized leaders who haven’t fulfilled their promises.
“ If the leaders had fulfilled their commitments to bring a cheer in the face of very Nepali, I would have been the happiest citizen.”
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