Kathmandu, Dec 27: Despite major political parties
boycotting the event and Maoist rebels calling for a general
strike on the day, grand preparations are on to felicitate
king Gyanendra on January 3.
The Biratnagar sub-metropolitan corporation is organizing
a civic felicitation and reception to the royal couple,
coinciding with the new year.
A 1,001-member civic reception and felicitation committee
has been constituted under the chairmanship of Meghraj Sharma
for the purpose.
However, the major political parties including Nepali
Congress and Nepal Communist Party (UML) have decided to
boycott the civic reception function saying this will further
deepen gap between the monarchy and the political parties.
"The civic reception will function will invite
confrontation between the king and political parties," CPN-UML
leader Bamdev Gautam said.
Biratnagar is the home town of former Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala, who is opposing the way civic reception
is being organized in honour of the king.
The civic reception has been regarded as the test of
popularity for the monarch, at a time when the major political
parties are opposing the October 4 royal take over assuming
all the executive powers by the king himself.
Bureau Report
