Nepal Netas Nail Ex-King for ‘Staging’ Pro-monarchy Protests

Nepal Parties Unite Against Gyanendra Shah

 By Manish Anand

New Delhi, March 31: A week after pro-monarchy protest eruptions, Nepal’s politicians pinned down ex-king Gyanendra Shah for rousing the people. Nepal witnessed the first major violent protests after monarchy was abolished in 2008.

An all-party meeting unanimously voiced that the ex-king himself was the principal culprit. Nepal’s fourth and fifth largest political outfits – the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) – were not party to the deliberations. They were not invited to the all-party meeting, said Kathmandu-based media.

A day before the all-party meeting, the Nepali government decided to change the security team of the ex-king. The pro-monarchy protests stunned Nepal observers last week.

At least two persons were killed, which included a news photographer. Protestors pelted stones at the police. The security agencies used tear gas. Protestors wore T-shirts which had images of Shah and the ex-queen.

Former Prime Minister Babulal Bhattarai summed up the sentiments of politicians in Nepal. He told reporters in Kathmandu that “Gyanendra Shah still behaves as if he is the king. He must face the legal action. He incited the March 28 violence (in Kathmandu).”

Maoist-turned-royalist Durga Parsai led protests in Kathmandu on March 28. That was preceded by the ex-king arriving from Pokhara to a grand welcome at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Later, Shah went visiting temples in Kathmandu.

Nepal News in a profile of Parsai said that he shot to the national prominence from oblivion after then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (also an incumbent PM) and then PM-in-Waiting Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ met him over breakfast at a hospital.

Nepal: Popular Uprising for Monarchy amid anti-China Sentiments

Oli and Prachanda are still in rotational arrangement to share the post of the prime minister. Nepal observers outline rise in pro-monarchy popular support to corresponding erosion of goodwill for politicians. Besides, a Kumari-worshipping nation has an almost Left political establishment.

Nepal-based media often spotlights deepening corruption in mainstream political parties. Excessive interferences of Chinese ambassador in Kathmandu also rile up the people.

Nepali media has warned on occasions of deepening debt of Nepal on account of China funded projects, including the Pokhara International Airport. Significantly, Shah flew from the same airport for Kathmandu.

Rampant corruption in Nepal coupled with deepening economic crisis are giving mortal blows to acceptance of the political parties. It may be noted that Nepal’s Neta from the ranks of CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN-UML as a ritual camp in Beijing for weeks to seek Chinese “guidance”.

Oli, current Nepal PM, belongs to CPN-UML. Prachanda heads CPM-MC. Since the abolition of monarchy, Nepal has given only fractured mandates, with almost a dozen political parties nibbling at the democratic pie.

China plays hard ball in Nepal

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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