From the famous poem ‘Howl’ by Allen Ginsberg

I saw the best minds of my generation  

destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,

dragging themselves through the negro streets

at dawn looking for an angry fix

 

Narayanhity for Ratna and Sarala ?

As we know Nepal has been declared Federal Democratic Republic, the cabinet on Sunday decided to let ex-king’s mother Ratna and grandmother Sarala stay inside the Narayanhity Palace until other arrangements are made. What a consuela biaz the parties are making !

Earlier, in line with the decision of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly to declare the nation a republic and formally abolish monarchy from the country, the cabinet had written to Gyanendra to vacate Narayanhity by mid-June.

Gyanendra, in a meeting with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, reportedly expressed his readiness to act as directed by the cabinet but asked the government to provide him a place to live in and arrange for his security. He had also asked the government to let his mother Ratna and grandmother Sarala live within Narayanhity as desired by them.

In response, the cabinet took a decision entitling Gyanendra to live at Nagarjun Palace for the ‘time being’. The government has also said that it would provide necessary security to the deposed king.

Contrary to the its earlier decision and instruction to vacate Narayanhity, the cabinet meeting today reached a consensus to offer abode to ousted king’s kins within Narayanhity.

Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, however, wrote a note of dissent against the decision to let Gyanendra’s relatives stay back within the Palace.

“It is against people’s aspiration and the spirit of People’s Movement-II. This decision has created confusion whether the deposed king will vacate Narayanhity or not,” Minister Pokhrel said.

As per the directives of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, ex-king Gyanendra has only five days to vacate and leave Narayanhity.

During today’s meting, the cabinet members expressed their serious concern over the ‘lost’ crown. There are reports in the media that the crown studded with precious stones and high-priced metals along with the scepter have gone missing from the Palace.

“We expressed our serious concern over the missing crown and rare documents. Though ousted, the king cannot leave the Palace until he submits the crown and all important documents,” Minister Pokhrel said.

Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also reached a consensus to adjust the price of petroleum products, as POL price in Nepal is not at par with the international market. As the government failed to adjust POL price, Nepal Oil Corporation has been bearing huge losses.

“The cabinet concluded to adjust POL prices. The next meeting of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) to be held on Monday will take the final decision about price hike,” he added.

A piece of poem by TS Illiot

Now is my way clear

Now is meaning playing

Temptation shall not come

In this kind again

The last temption

is the greatest treason

To do right thing

For the wrong reason.

Nagarjun Palace to ex-king !

The government is totally indifferent to the problem of landless people. Recently, their huts were put to the ashes in far-west. But the cabinet meeting on Wednesday decided to give the Nagarjun palace to deposed king Gyanendra temporarily after he leaves the Narayanhiti palace.

Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara emerging from the meeting said that the cabinet decided to allow the abolished royal couples to use the Nagarjun palace for the time being.

“There will be some other arrangement later and now the Nagarjun palace has been provided to expedite the vacating of the Narayanhiti palace,” minister Mahara said.

He informed that only the residential building had been given to them, not the whole forest area covered by the palace. Former king Gyanendra at a formal meeting with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Monday had requested to arrange for his residence as he was leaving the Narayanhiti palace following the declaration of a republic by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) on May 28.

The palace surrounded by about 15,000-ropani jungle has already been nationalised by the government.

Minister for Land Reform and Management Jagat Bahadur Bogati said that the deposed king would be provided security as a citizen. A meeting of the three major parties — CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on Tuesday had decided to arrange the residence for the deposed king.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Population Girirajmani Pokharel opposed the cabinet decision stating that the decision had not clearly stated the time duration for using the Nagarjun palace. He questioned on the meaning of ‘for the time being’ and asked what type of arrangement would be made in the future.

Deposed king to leave palace within 10 days

 

Will deposed king Gyanendra leave Narayanhity Palace ? Five days after monarchy’s abolition, he has broken his silence on Monday and said he would leave the Narayanhity palace within the next 10 days once his residence has been fixed.

“I have taken the decision of the Constituent Assembly (CA) normally and I am eager to live a citizen’s life,” said former king Gyanendra to Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Sitaula had reached the Narayanhiti Palace with a team of government officials in the course of implementing the republic. Abolished king Gyanendra also welcomed the CA’s decision, minister Sitaula said.

Minister Sitaula after about an hour’s stay at the palace told the media, “I found that former king Gyanendra is a simple citizen like you all.” Minister Sitaula had reached there as per the instruction of a high level republic implementation committee after taking consent of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

“He, as a citizen, talked to me like any other citizen talks to a minister,” Sitaula reported. I did not sense any form of royal aura from the deposed king in the course of our dealing, he said. Minister Sitaula had talked with former king Gyanendra separately and collectively with other government officials.

“We are happy as you have taken the CA’s decision normally,” Sitaula shared the response he made to the ousted monarch.

Abolished king Gyanendra expressed concern over managing his residence and arranging for his security, minister Sitaula said. It is reported that the former prince Paras is said to be living at Nirmal Niwas, Gyanendra’s private home before he took the responsibility of monarch. That is why Gyanendra has been looking for a new residence, according to sources.

“When I asked Gyanendra about media reports relating to the damaging of important palace documents after his ouster he dismissed the claims,” Sitaula said responding to a query. “I feel sorry that the media sometimes files baseless reports,” Sitaula quoted abolished king Gyanendra as saying.

Sitaula had visited the residence of Gyanendra’s family members including his mother Ratnarajyalaxmi.

Asked whether Gyanendra had any grievance against the leaders and the government about the abolishment of the monarchy he said, “The abolished king did not express any grievance.”

The security guards, initially had stopped Sitaula’s bodyguard from entering into the room where the meeting was arranged. On this, minister Sitaula said, “We must change the perception of those who were brought up in an environment of tight security .”

Sitaula informed that he instructed the two committees formed to implement the republic and to arrange the security of the palace to intensify their works by setting up their offices within the Narayanhiti palace.

Home secretary Umesh Mainali and General Administration secretary Govinda Kusum including other government officials were present during the visit. It is the first formal ministerial level visit to the palace during the last two years. No government ministers and leaders of major political parties had formally met abolished king Gyanendra since last two years after the restoration of parliament in 2006.