KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has accused former King Gyanendra Shah of overstepping his status, stating that the monarchy no longer has a place in Nepal’s democratic system.
Speaking at a press conference to announce recent cabinet decisions, Minister Gurung said that the former king had forgotten the privileges granted to him after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
“This country had a monarchy and a ruling family that exploited the people for more than 240 years. After the system was overthrown, they should have been in jail, and their property confiscated,” he said.
Instead, he noted, the government ensured the former king’s security and provided him residence at Nagarjuna Palace.
“Despite these arrangements, he is now criticizing the system and even suggesting a return to power. This is because he has forgotten his status and the generosity shown to him,” Gurung said.
The minister also questioned the role of monarchies in governance, arguing that kings have failed to protect their own institutions.
“Where in the world has a king saved a country? A monarchy that cannot protect its own palace, its own family, and where meritocracy has no place—such a system has no future,” he said.
Gurung attributed the downfall of Nepal’s monarchy to its own failures, including the decline of the feudal production system. While acknowledging the right to protest in a democracy, he stressed that it should be exercised within limits.
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