Nepal Govt to take action against king Gyanendra

The Interim Constitution has not provided the king any right to deliver such message, Nepal's Deputy Premier Amik Serchan said.

The Nepal government will initiate action against King Gyanendra for his "unconstitutional" and "reactionary" 'Democracy Day' message in which he had defended his February 1, 2005 takeover of power, Deputy Prime Minister Amik Serchan said.

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"The Interim Constitution has not provided the King any right to deliver such message, which is unconstitutional and we will take action against him", the Deputy Prime Minister said while inaugurating a students' programme in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Gyanendra in his message to the nation on 'Democracy Day' defended his February 1, 2005 coup adding that he took the moral responsibility for the success or the failure of his 15-month rule, which ended after a 'People's Movement' in April last year.

The message of the king on the 'Democracy Day' was his "reactionary and personal message" and it had not been delivered with the consent of the government, Serchan said.

"The government is alert about the matter and planning to take the necessary decision after holding an eight party meeting," the Deputy Prime Minister was quoted by the state run The Rising Nepal on Wednesday.

"Now it has become necessary to declare Nepal a republican state sooner without waiting for the outcome of the constituent assembly polls slated for mid-June, he said.

The king's statement has sparked nationwide protests and sharp criticism from different political quarters.

Student groups affiliated to the seven political parties running the government along with the Maoists damaged the statues of the royal families in their reaction to the king's controversial statement.