On Monday, Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli blamed former King Gyanendra Shah for last week's violence and announced that those guilty would be taken into account legally.
During his address in the House of Representatives, Oli asked the former king to speak publicly about his position regarding the violent protests his supporters had arranged in the Tinkune area on Friday.
"Ex-king Gyanendra Shah was also involved in the Tinkune incident," Oli announced, underlining his determination that "strict action would be taken against all parties to the incident, irrespective of their status."
The forceful demonstrations killed two people, one of them a photojournalist, and injured more than 110. A total of 110 persons have been arrested by authorities for their involvement in the unrest.
Oli reasoned that these incidents were irrefutable proof that the ex-king had breached an accord reached after the historic decision by the Constituent Assembly. The accord granted Shah 'quiet living as a citizen,' allowed him to carry out business activities, and provided him with 'security arrangements as a former head of state.' It even granted him occupancy of the Nagarjuna Palace on the outskirts of Kathmandu, but under certain conditions.
The Prime Minister also lambasted Shah's Democracy Day (February 19) video message that he said was inciting the demonstrators. "He will not be granted impunity," Oli threatened, and added that those who were trying to topple the republican order and restore the monarchy should come out and say it.
Oli compared the two rallies staged in Kathmandu on Friday, observing that although the one organized by Socialist Front, rallying behind the republic, was democratic and legal, the pro-monarchy rally was unconstitutional. The latter, according to him, involved participants looting media premises, vandalizing media houses, looting shops, burning vehicles, burning down a medicine factory, destroying a fire engine, and burning bushes at the airport grounds.
"The alleged organizers attempted to drive a car over police personnel and violated restricted zones. There was also terrorist activity such as burning the international airport and the depot of the oil corporation," Oli said. He condemned the violence strongly and said, "Setting fire to someone's house, looting a shopping mall, and burning a herbal company cannot be considered political activities."
The Prime Minister has assured the nation that the Home Ministry would reveal more information regarding the incident at the right moment, and an in-depth report would be presented.
Oli's comments outraged lawmakers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which pushes for the re-establishment of the Hindu Kingdom in Nepal.
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