Nepal: Political Parties Blame Ex-King for Violence and Republican Threats
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Synopsis
In Kathmandu, political factions have accused former King Gyanendra Shah of instigating recent violent protests. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli convened a meeting to address the unrest, emphasizing the need for unity among parties to protect the constitution and national security.
Key Takeaways
- The former king is accused of inciting violence.
- Political parties are uniting against anti-republican actions.
- Legal actions against Gyanendra Shah are being suggested.
- Two leaders from RPP have been arrested amid the protests.
- Tensions remain high in Kathmandu following the clashes.
Kathmandu, March 31 (NationPress) The former King of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, has been labeled as the principal instigator behind the violent protests that swept across the country this week. In a crucial gathering of pro-republican political factions convened by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, Shah was identified as the key figure responsible for the unrest.
The political parties accused the former monarch of undermining the constitution and plotting against the federal democratic republican framework, as reported by local media.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stated that there is a unified agreement among the political parties to come together for the safeguarding of the constitution and to guarantee national development and public safety.
"No anti-constitutional actions will be accepted," Lekhak declared during a press briefing following the meeting.
Despite existing differences among various parties, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who also leads the Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP), proposed that they should unite to confront the recent anti-republican actions believed to be supported by Shah.
"Gyanendra Shah has persistently acted as if he remains a king. The political parties and the government have been lenient towards him. However, the event on March 28 was instigated by him and constituted a criminal act. His actions have now crossed a critical threshold. Therefore, I urged in the all-party meeting that he should face legal repercussions," Bhattarai stated while addressing the media.
In the meantime, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which are the fourth and fifth largest parties in Parliament, were not invited to the all-party meeting on Sunday.
Both parties are regarded as anti-republican elements, according to the prominent Nepalese daily, The Kathmandu Post.
Previously, the RPP, whose two leaders faced arrest for their involvement in the protests, also called for an investigation to clarify the situation.
The RPP demanded that the government assume responsibility for the violent confrontations and challenged the authorities to arrest the former king.
"We challenge the government to detain the former king. We firmly believe that the king should not be embroiled in controversy. We will demonstrate our strength if the government dares to take action against him," party chair Rajendra Lingden stated during a press conference.
The party also warned of protests if their two detained leaders—senior vice president Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Sumsher Rana—are not released.
However, the two leaders were charged with treason by the Kathmandu District Court (KDC), which also extended their remand until Tuesday.
Furthermore, police have apprehended approximately 100 individuals, although only 42 have been presented in court, and investigations are ongoing, according to a report by The Himalayan.
Tensions escalated in specific areas of Kathmandu on Friday as two individuals lost their lives and hundreds sustained injuries during violent confrontations between security forces and pro-monarchy demonstrators, who were advocating for the reinstatement of the abolished monarchy in Nepal.
