Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to take action against the then king, Gyanendra Shah, for his involvement in “criminal activities”.
He said this while speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday. The pro-monarchy protesters committed criminal acts on March 28, PM Oli said in reference to violent incidents at Tinkune, and pledged to not spare the former King. “Those involved in the criminal activities, including the former king, will not be exempted from punishment,” PM Oli reiterated. “Shouldn't those who say they will become the King again and destroy the system make their views public on all these incidents?” he questioned, referring to the former king.
PM Oli said the administration granted separate groups the permission to organize two political programs in Kathmandu in a peaceful manner on May 28. “The Socialist Front under the leadership of the political parties, which have a significant presence in the Parliament, held a demonstration in a grand manner. They put forth their views, warned the government and expressed their commitment to the system and the Constitution,” he said, adding: I thank the organizers for a peaceful demonstration. I believe that this is the way to strengthen our federal democratic republic.
He went on to say that the venue at Tinkune was given to another group for their protest. “But there was some suspicion and confusion about the organizers of the protest. There were grounds for suspicion about the objectives of the program as some of the leaders of the parties represented in the Parliament were among the organizers.”
“While protesting, the organizers went against their promise to hold a peaceful demonstration. A mob started shouting slogans against the government and when the administration tried to control it, the mobsters assaulted police personnel, snatched their weapons and even robbed a department store,” PM Oli added.
Two persons—Suresh Rajak, a photojournalist at Avenues Television, and Sabin Maharjan (29) of Kirtipur—died during the demonstration at Tinkune. The protesters vandalized two media houses—the Annapurna Media Network and Kantipur Television—and set afire the office of the daily Annapurna Post. They not only caused damage to the media houses and private properties but also tried to set fire at the airport nearby and attacked police vans and a fire engine that had rushed to the scene to douse the flames, Oli said. “All of these acts are condemnable. Stern action will be taken against those involved in such incidents regardless of who they are,” PM Oli said, adding that the former King was responsible for all the incidents of May 28.
PM Oli accused the then king of violating the agreement reached with him after the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a republic in 2008. At the time of the declaration of the republic, it was agreed that the former King Shah would be allowed to live a peaceful life as a citizen, conduct business activities by exercising the legal and constitutional rights of the citizen, and provide adequate security, PM Oli said. The Nagarjuna Palace was allotted to him, apart from granting his mother the permission to continue using a building within the Narayanhiti Palace complex as her residence. Furthermore, he said his government has already started an investigation into the Tinkune mayhem with the objective of identifying the guilty and bringing them to justice.
Meanwhile, while addressing the Parliament, he warned lawmakers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party to desist from destroying the Constitution, pointing out that they were oath-bound to protect the charter. Stresing that now is the time to protect the Constitution, safeguard the rights of the people achieved through a huge struggle and sacrifice and its successful implementation, PM Oli said that the entire House should unite for the cause.
