I must shoulder responsibility in some way or the other: Ex-Nepal King
Telegraph Nepal
“Do not ask me such questions,” former King Gyanendra Shah who has now turned into a fifth page stuff for major national dailies, save a few, when asked by media men to divulge his views that if there lay any possibility of revival of the now dumped institution of monarchy, replied.
Experts view that since former King Gyanendra himself prefers hibernation his case is becoming weaker and weaker. Else the person, who once represented the institution that played significant role in providing formal shape to Nepal as a nation-state will always remain an interesting and valuable stuff for the media. There are other national issues of high import thus Gyanendra’s activities are of secondary importance for major media outlets.
“Let me not talk of monarchy...do not ask me such questions...people know everything”, said the former Nepal sovereign.
Shah had arrived at the Lord Pashupati Nath Temple premises to attend Maha Yagna being organized by Kali Das Baba for restoration of Nepal as a Hindu State.
He stayed there for about 45 minutes.
“When Gyanendra arrived at the Yagna venue, high ranking government officials, Nepal Army and Police officials were also present”, reports Annapurna Post Daily.
This has some hidden meaning.
Interestingly, reports Kantipur Daily, the former King had sent request to the organizers not to put posters and banners calling him ‘His Majesty the King’ and also not to chant pro-monarchy slogans.
Modesty or an act of garnering sympathy from the lay men?
Yet, plenty of supporters of monarchy who had gathered at the venue chanted pro-monarchy slogans.
“Indeed our country is undergoing through a critical period. There lay many challenges ahead of us. A person who had once taken the responsibility of the nation, in the prevailing situation cannot sideline himself. He must shoulder responsibility in some way or the other. In the present difficulty...to save the country, parties and leaders must unite”, said Shah talking to media men.
So the ex-King is ready to shoulder the responsibility?
In the meantime, the former king has met with the co-founder Dr. Tilak Shrestha of United Nationalist Nepalese (UNN) - a loyal organization of the Institution of Nepal Monarchy based in the US states in its press release freshly issued:
The UNN press release follows:
Begin text.
Recently, Dr. Tilak Shrestha met Nepal monarch to know the situation of the country. Dr. Shrestha, on behalf of the concerned citizens expressed concern over the systematic assaults on the fundamentals of the nationhood – basic daily needs including water and electricity, educational institutions, economic infrastructures, employment, and basic law and order. King Gyanendra suggested building a network of individuals and pooling the necessary resources to bring stability, growth, democracy, peace and prosperity in the nation for the well being of citizens. He stated that monarchs work for the long term structural good of the nation, not for short term cheap popularity. His effort to streamline the derailed democratic process in 2005 was misinterpreted. To some extent, it was his government’s shortcoming for not explaining the issue to the people effectively. He always desired to be within the constitution and no steps were taken outside. His only desire is to see Nepal peaceful and prosperous. When Dr. Shrestha reminded the wrong direction the nation is heading towards, he said that he was fully aware of the fact and thus it is the duty of all Nepalese to be concerned with the developments and the future of Nepal.
Dr. Shrestha urged King Gyanendra to encourage an agenda of protecting people's very freedom, providing opportunities for education, free business and trade environment, creating jobs and providing security to citizens by enforcing law and order in this chaotic time. Dr. Shrestha mentioned to King Gyanendra that, in general, democratic practice of different parties ruling is good for the country. It allows people to learn the realities of parties and leaders, and make realistic choices. However, current events are not about the democratic practices, but about political forces unwilling to abide by democratic norm and playing an active role in division of the nation. It is not about the positive learning curve, but about the slide into the national disintegration. The issue must be well understood and feared by all citizens.
UNN thanks King Gyanendra for his graciousness to provide time and share the issues raised by UNN and Nepali at large.
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