Former Nepal King Gyanendra arrives in India

Former Nepal King Gyanendra arrived in New Delhi on a two-week-long visit to India, his first after being dethroned in May last year.

Former Nepal King Gyanendra arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday night on a two-week-long visit to India, his first after being dethroned in May last year.

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60-year-old Gyanendra, once revered as a demi-God, was like any other common passenger arriving by a commercial plane from Kathmandu.

Dressed in formals and accompanied by his wife Komal, the former Nepal monarch took a taxi and headed for an undisclosed destination in New Delhi.

Not much is known about his programme but he is believed to have come to attend a marriage in Bhopal where important leaders, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are likely to be present.

He is also likely to meet some political leaders, including BJP’s L K Advani, during his stay in New Delhi.

Gyanendra, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 2001 and ruled the country for five years, was dethroned when the new Maoist-led government decided to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy in Nepal last year.