KATHMANDU: Former King Gyanendra Shah has spoken for the first time about the violent pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu’s Tinkune on Chaith 15, which left two people dead and several others injured.
In his New Year 2082 message, Shah addressed the incident that occurred during a demonstration led by Durga Prasai and Nabaraj Subedi, who had met the former king earlier that day. The protest turned violent, resulting in two deaths, bullet injuries to 20 individuals, and property damage and looting amounting to an estimated Rs 460 million.
“Freedom of expression is a beautiful aspect of democracy,” Shah stated, “but expressing opinions must be done with restraint.”
Referring to the violent protest as a “people’s demonstration,” Shah said, “We were deeply saddened by the violence, arson, and destruction that occurred on March 28, causing both human and material losses.”
He stressed that there can be no system or ideology above citizens’ freedom. “In true democracy, there is praise for the good and criticism of the bad. It must embrace a culture of both appreciation and listening to criticism,” he added.
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