[ "I FEEL, AS A COMMON CITIZEN, JUSTICE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN TO ME. I THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE A THOUGHT TO OUR PLIGHT AS WELL, AS COMMON CITIZENS," HE SAID, ADDING THAT HE HAD NOT KNOCKED THE COURT'S DOORS SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT EMBARRASSED.]
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AIRED BY THE PRIVATELY-RUN IMAGE TELEVISION, GYANENDRA ALSO SAID HE FEELS SAD THAT THE COUNTRY'S 240-YEAR-OLD MONARCHY WAS ABOLISHED WHEN HE WAS KING.
"I FEEL SAD, NOT GUILTY. MANY THINGS COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED. ON SOME THINGS, I WAS BETRAYED. ON OTHER THINGS, I FEEL, PEOPLE ARE YET TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THAT ACTION (ABOLITION OF MONARCHY)," HE SAID.
THE MONARCHY WAS ABOLISHED BY AN ELECTED ASSEMBLY IN MAY 2008.
THE FORMER KING, WHO LIVES IN A SUMMER RETREAT IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF KATHMANDU, ALSO SAID THAT TIME MIGHT COME FOR HIM TO ASSUME A ROLE TO DEAL WITH
"BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME," HE SAID.
GYANENDRA SAID CALLS TO OUST HIM FROM THE SUMMER RETREAT AFTER HE LEFT THE PALACE IN 2008 ARE UNJUST.
"I FEEL, AS A COMMON CITIZEN, JUSTICE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN TO ME. I THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE A THOUGHT TO OUR PLIGHT AS WELL, AS COMMON CITIZENS," HE SAID, ADDING THAT HE HAD NOT KNOCKED THE COURT'S DOORS SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT EMBARRASSED.
HE DENIED HIS ALLEGIANCE WITH THE RASTRIYA PRAJATANTRA PARTY-NEPAL THAT HAS BEEN RAISING DEMANDS THAT MONARCHY BE REINSTATED AND THAT
"HAD I ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PARTY, I WOULD HAVE ENTERED POLITICS A LONG TIME AGO. I DIDN'T AND DON'T HAVE SUCH PLANS," HE SAID.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
2010-05-25 10:48 PM
