KATHMANDU: The ruling CPN-UML has stated that the destruction and vandalism during the March 28 (Chaitra 15) protest in Tikune, Kathmandu amounted to anarchy and has urged former King Gyanendra Shah to take responsibility for it.
Following the party’s Secretariat meeting on Monday, UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali remarked that the former king’s New Year 2082 message carried a clear political motive.
“Through his New Year message, the former king appears to harbor hopes of reviving the monarchy and reversing the achievements of the present political system,” Gyawali said. “After declaring on February 19 (Falgun 7) that he had taken a step forward, and appointing a commander on March 27 (Chaitra 14), he cannot evade accountability for the events of March 28.”
Gyawali stressed that the Nepali public has already rejected the actions that took place on March 28.
“Instead of admitting that the path he took and the people he entrusted were mistaken, the former king continues to incite unrest,” he added.
He also drew attention to the authoritarian practices during the former king’s rule, reminding the public why the republican system was adopted in the first place.
“The system he led stripped people of their rights and repeatedly violated agreements, which necessitated the transition to a republic,” Gyawali said. “Trying to dismantle the current system in the name of awakening is wrong.”
While investigations into the Tikune incident are ongoing and some arrests have been made, Gyawali insisted that the former king must be held morally accountable.
“Calling the March 28 incident a public awakening is misleading,” he said. “The destruction of private homes, government offices, and political party headquarters is not awakening—it’s anarchy.”
Gyawali has urged the former king not to push for a return to the past.
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