Kathmandu: Maoist chief Prachnada, who
led the decade-long armed struggle to bring down the
240-year-old monarchy in Nepal, wants to reinstate the royalty
to save the country from "foreign intervention", a
pro-royalist leader claimed on Thursday.
Kamal Thapa, president of royalist Rastriya
Prajatantra Party-Nepal, said that UCPN-Maoist chairman
Prachanda is positive about reinstating monarchy.
"Prachanda told me during a meeting that foreign
intervention has intensified in the country after the
abolition of monarchy," Thapa told reporters in Kathmandu.
"He told me that he realised the need to restore
monarchy to save the country from foreign intervention," Thapa
said without naming any country.
In the past, Prachanda has been critical of India for
"inferring" in Nepal and some of the key bilateral pacts. He
has demanded the revision of the 1950 Peace and Friendship
Treaty on the basis of "changed scenario" and resolving the
border row over Kalapani and Susta.
Thapa`s statement comes at time when former crown
prince Paras said that monarchy could be revived if the
Nepalese people wants it to play a certain role.
The Maoist revolt began in 1996 to end the monarchy
and the conflict lasted for ten years. Nepal abolished
monarchy in 2008 and became the world`s youngest republic.
Thapa also suggested that the United Nations Mission
in Nepal (UNMIN), whose term is expiring in mid-September
should be extended to control the activities of the Maoists.
The current mandate given to UNMIN is insufficient, he
pointed out.
He also said that the Nepal Army should be allowed to
recruit new personnel and the national army should not come
under the vigilance of the UNMIN.
Thapa`s remarks came at a time when the country is
trapped in a deeper political crisis as the Parliament has
failed to elect a new Prime Minister even during the fifth
round of election.
PTI
