KATHMANDU, Aug 6: The bilateral relationship between Nepal and India is not as positive as it should be and China is also not happy with Nepal’s political and constitutional system, argued Political Analyst Dr. Arun Kumar Subedi.

Nepal and India share close linguistic, marital, religious, and, cultural ties, at people to people level. However, a number of political issues including border disputes have soured the bilateral relationship between the two neighbors since late 2015.

“Since late 2015, some of the political forces of Nepal, in order to counter the Indian reservation over the promulgation, invoked the anti-Indian rhetoric among the people which only worsened the diplomatic relation,” said Subedi during a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

Especially, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli share a patchy relation with the southern neighbor—Oli remained a strong vocal critic of India criticizing its hegemonic interference after the undeclared economic blockade led to a humanitarian crisis in Nepal.

“Both India and Nepal are obliged to address each other but they do not have a relationship of trust,” said Subedi.

According to Subedi, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) clearly wants Nepal reinstated as a Hindu state.

“It is clearly understood that India wants a change in the constitutional status,” he added.

“They want Nepal to remain as a hub of Hindus and Buddhists. But we lost the opportunity in the name of progressivism.”

“Not only India but also China is not satisfied with the constitutional and political system Nepal especially federalism and secularism.”

“When Nepal took the petition to China during the undeclared blockade, China said it would consult with India first. Also, when Nepal was declared a federal state, China expressed reservation over the cultural intrusion in the border area.”

“Moreover, why has not the province got state police yet? It is because of the pressure from the two neighbors.”

He also opined that the upcoming visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is a positive sign.

Jaishankar had last visited Nepal in September 2015 as a special envoy of Indian PM Modi at the eleventh hour before the then constituent assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the new constitution. He had advised the senior Nepali political leaders to derail the promulgation but his advice was outright rejected by the leaders.

His appointment as India’s external affairs minister–after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a landslide victory in the 2019 Lok Shabha Election—clearly reminded Nepal of the bitter experience four years ago.

“But Jaishankar’s Nepal’s visit is a positive sign that Nepal-India diplomatic tie is not worse. It is a sign that India does not intend to isolate Nepal like Pakistan.”

Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Nepal in the third week of August to participate in the fifth meeting of the ministerial-level Nepal-India Joint Commission.

Subedi was of the view that there are possibilities of the revival of the kingdom in Nepal.

“The monarchy was not overthrown by the people neither it was the agenda of people. Did the political leaders call for a referendum? There is widespread discontent among people with the current political structure. It cannot be said that the kingdom will not be revived again.”

KATHMANDU, July 1: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will head the government for the full five-year term, said Nepal Communist Party parliamentary party deputy leader Subash Chandra Nembang.

Nembag’s remark comes amid a debate whether PM Oli will hand over the government to Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal as his two-and-a-half-year at office comes closer.

The debate erupted after Chair Dahal during a television interview Janata Janna Chanchan revealed a five-point agreement with Oli which said the two chairs had agreed to lead the government on equality for equal periods of time. Dahal had also expressed confidence of getting premiership or the party leadership once Oli completes his two-and-a-half-years.

The NCP leaders have argued that if Oli and Dahal have indeed agreed to head the government for equal periods of time, the deal should be implemented. However, they have claimed that the issue of the agreement has not entered formally in any committees of the party.

Nembang, during a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan with Rishi Dhamala, denied having any knowledge of the five-point agreement.

“I don’t have have any knowledge of the agreement.”

“Whatever the two chairs have agreed is between them. The agreement has not been formally put to discussion in the party. They will discuss and reach a conclusion in consensus.”

“The party will move forward as per their decisions.”

Following Dahal’s interview, PM Oli had accepted that he and Dahal had reached an agreement but he did not want to further discuss about it.

“Whatever is agreed on the paper, it on the paper. I don’t want to discuss this now,’ PM Oli had said.

Dahal later had also warned that if the agreement is not implemented, it can invite a big trouble.

When inquired about Dahal and PM Oli’s statements, Nembang refused to further comment on the matter.

“As I said, its between the two chairs,” he said.

“I respect whatever they have agreed. I don’t want to further comment on this matter.”

“I don’t know further details about this.”

When asked whether Oli will be prime minister for the full term or half-term, he said, “If nothing happens, Oli will become prime minister for five years.”

However, he did not rule out the possibility of Chair Dahal of heading the government.

“I haven’t said that Dahal has no chance to lead the premiership.”

“The party has embraced a trend to move forward as per the decision between the two chairs in consensus.”

‘IF PM OLI CANNOT AMEND CONSTITUTION, ANOTHER PRIME MINISTER WILL’

‘MERGER WITH SAMAJWADI PARTY IN NEAR FUTURE IS NOT ON CARDS’

Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Lal Babu Pandit is no position to continue his position as minister, said Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leader Raj Kishor Yadav.

Minister Pandit has been facing criticism after the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced vacancy on May 29 for the recruitment of 9,161 staffers at various positions in 515 local governments, which the lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties and Province 2 government has slammed saying it is against the spirit of the constitution and the principles of inclusive representation of all communities and genders in the local bodies. They have also said that the vacancy announcement breaches the rights of the provincial PSCs to recruit staffers at local units.

“If we review the decisions taken by the government, many of them have breached the spirit of the constitution,” said Yadav during a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan broadcast on Prime Times television.

“The vacancy announcement by the PSC is a direct challenge to constitution. And Minister Pandit is the defending the vacancy announcement,” he added.

Following the pressure from lawmakers and Province 2 government, the State Affairs Committee of the parliament directed the government and the constitution body to cancel the vacancy announcement concluding that it was against the constitution.

However, Minister Pandit defended the vacancy advertisement saying it was completely in line with the constitution and was announced as per the operating Civil Servants Adjustment Act.

“The Federal Civil Servants Act is still under consideration at the Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee. The parliament, after holding a rigorous discussion in the committee, approved the Civil Servants Adjustment Act—which states that after the adjustment process, the vacant positions, if demanded by the local and provincial bodies, will be sent to Federal PSC through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration without any modification until the formation of Provincial Public Service Commission,” Minister Pandit said in a television interview earlier this month.

“Since the PSC cannot announce the vacancy based on the under-consideration Act, the constitutional body has to announce the vacancy as per the operating Act. The federal PSC, as sent by the government, announced the vacancy in line with the constitution,” Pandit had insisted.

But, Yadav said that the minister has no right to challenge the direction of the State Affairs Committee.

“Minister Pandit did a mistake challenging the order of State Affairs Committee.”

“Who is he? He is just a minister. But the State Affairs Committee is a mini parliament. I think Pandit has lost his mind,” he fumed.

“One of the reasons behind Oli government’s unpopularity is Minister Pandit. In fact, he has no knowledge of the Constitution of Nepal.”

“Therefore, he should be sacked immediately. Pandit has no moral ground to continue his post as minister.”

Yadav also said that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli should heed the demands of the Madheshi people and take steps for the amendment of the constitution as promised.

“If he cannot amend the constitution, another prime minister will do it,” he said.

On March 6, the RJPN terming the government unsuccessful in matters pertaining to constitution amendment, failure to withdraw ‘false’ charges against those arrested during the Madhesh and Tharuhat movement and check corruption, withdrew its support given to the government.

When argued the Oli government has two-third majority and is strong, Yadav replied, “His strength was seen a few days ago.”

“Did not the Maitighar Mandala demonstration shake the Singhadurbar?”

Following the introduction of controversial Guthi Bill, thousands of protesters had gathered at Mandala–biggest demonstration after 2006 People’s Movement– demanding the withdrawal and cancellation of the Guthi Bill. The government on Tuesday officially withdrew the bill registered at the National Assembly.

“What he calls is the power of the parliament and the power of people.

‘If PM Oli is reluctant to heed the concerns of people, he does not have a future,” he said.

Yadav also expressed dissatisfaction toward the government’s failure to check corruption, maintain peace and security, good governance and structural transformation.

“Instead the government has tried to attack the culture and tradition, restrict press freedom and expression and control media,” he said.

Yadav also clarified that the possibility of merger between RJPN and recently formed Samajwadi Party (after the merger between Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav led Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and Dr Baburam Bhattarai led Naya Shakti Party) is low.

“We are holding informal discussions with Samjwadi Party. We are always open to unite with the parties with similar political background and agenda. But, merger with Samajwadi Party is not on the cards in near future,” he said.

RJPN has put forth a condition that merger with Samajwadi is possible only after Upendra Yadav sever ties with the government.

Related Coverage:

Vacancy announcement in line with constitution: Minister Pandit (With Video)

KATHMANDU, June 26: The agreement reached between Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be implemented, said PM’s foreign affairs advisor Dr. Rajan Bhattarai.

“If the two chairs have agreed to head the government turn by turn, Dahal will become prime minister once Oli completes two-and-a-half-year at the office,” said Dr. Bhattarai in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

Chair Dahal has reiterated that the party will move forward as per the agreement signed between the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) during the unification process. On May 30, talking to Dhamala on Janata Janna Chahanchan, Dahal had brought up the five-point agreement which said the two co-chairs will lead the government for equal periods of time. Dahal had also expressed confidence that PM Oli will respect the agreement and was optimistic about getting the premiership.

Asked will the PM hand over the government to Dahal, Bhattarai said, “Chair Dahal has brought up this. But, PM Oli has not said anything about the agreement.”

“Unless an official statement from both chairs comes, I cannot say anything.”

“What I have understood is that Oli has been elected for the full five-year term”.

“Even Chair Dahal has accepted this. Other senior leaders have also said the same.”

“But, if they have agreed on leading the government for an equal period of time, it will be implemented. PM Oli will have to step down,” he said.

‘FEDERALISM IN NEPAL HAS FAILED’
KATHMANDU, June 24: Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC has argued that the federal structure in Nepal has failed.

“Nepal is still a semi-autocratic country. Corruption still prevails here. Dividing the country into seven parts has made more plight to the fortune of the country and its people,” said KC in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

Asked the top leaders have claimed there is no alternative to federalism in the country, the former deputy prime minister said, “Federalism was one of the serious mistakes of the political parties of Nepal. They only claim this in speeches. But, they have also realized that federalism has not worked very well in Nepal.”

“Besides, federalism does not suit the social structure and political parties’s character.”

“Federalism is not a boon to the nation but a curse.”

“Therefore, implementation of federalism in Nepal is no possible,” he claimed.

“Our party had even warned that federalism would fail in the country.”

In fact, according to KC, the federalism was the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Even India’s Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said he wants Nepal restored as Hindu state.”

Adityanath, talking to a Nepali journalist visiting Lucknow, on Sunday, had expressed hope that Nepal will understand the sentiment of its large number of Hindu population and will rethink secularism.

“What we need to understand is the the agenda of federalism came from BJP. There is no doubt about it.”

‘India is already a secular country despite a large number of Hindu people. Yet, why do the BJP want Nepal to be reinstated as Hindu state?’

“Indian Prime Minister cannot restore India as Hindu state. Therefore, in order to make his people happy, he wants Nepal to be a Hindu state. Everybody has understood this,” he said.

“The BJP is planning it.”

Senior Advocate and National Assembly member from Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Ram Narayan Bidari and Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi exchanged offensive words in television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan on Saturday.

Reporters’ Club Nepal President and talk show host Rishi Dhamala had invited Bidari and Tripathi to talk about a number of bills introduced by the government that have sparked controversy and faced criticism across the country.

Recently, the government withdrew the controversial Guthi Bill registered at the National Assembly following the public pressure—the instance of a withdrawal of a bill under public pressure from streets. Likewise, Media Council Bill, Advertisement Bill, Transitional Justice Bill and National Security Council Bill also face criticisms.

Tripathi was of the view that the bills introduced by the government were intended to attack freedom and were against the spirit of the constitution.

“The government cannot present any bill stepping on the constitution. The parliament does not have the right to formulate law going against the constitution,” he said.

In response, Bidari insisted that the bills are supposed to be presented in the parliament by the government.

But, Bidari made a stupid mistake using an offensive word.

“If the government does not present bills, which ‘torilaure’ can bring them?”

“In a democratic society, private members can also introduce bills,” Tripathi said adding, “You cannot call a lawmaker torilaure?”

“I did not call any lawmaker torilaure? I called you torilaure,” Bidari said. This time his voice was a litter louder. “Because you are taking against the constitution,” he added.

“No, I have said anything anti-constitutional,” he said.

Tripathi responded saying, “No, it’s you who is taking against the constitution. You are offending the parliament.”

“You said only the government can introduce a bill. Isn’t it unconstitutional?” he added.

“Yes, private members can bring the bill. But is there any example like that? Thus, only parliament can bring a bill and discussion over the bill is only held in the parliament,” Bidari replied.

When Tripathi was saying, “In a democratic society, the lawmaking process…”

Bidari interrupted and replied aggressively, “Don’t talk about America. Does the Constitution of Nepal say the discussion on a bill is held outside the parliament?”

“I haven’t talked about America,” Tripathi responded. “Outside means consultation with stake holders, discussion among people.”

“Can you stop people from discussing a bill?”

“Why was the government forced to retreat? Is it because of public pressure from the streets?”

“Wasn’t the Guthi Bill withdrawn?” Tripathi added.

”If you say, the bill cannot be tabled in the parliament, where should it be tabled?…in Bhote Jatra?” Bidari replied.

Tripathi said,” You are taking wrong. Who has said the bill cannot be tabled in the parliament?

“We are only saying that a bill should be presented in accordance with the spirit of the constitution,” Tripathi added.

Bidari replied, “Who judges a proposed bill is either constitutional or unconstitutional? You or the Supreme Court?”

“How can you judge the rights of the parliament from the streets?” Bidari fumed.

“Why was the election of parliament held? You lost the election and became tiny. And you are saying….”

Tripathi interrupted, “Bidari ji, you are such a person who became a lawmaker not by winning the election but by bootlicking.”

Bidari replied, “And you? Haven’t a torilaure like you bootlicked European Union?”

“You are using offensive words. What is torilaure?” Tripathi was more aggressive this time. “What do you want to say Mr Bidari ji?

“Have you fought an election? What is your capacity? On what qualification did they make you a lawmaker?” Tripathi added.

Badari said: “What is your qualification? What have you done except bootlicking EU?”

Tripathi replied: “Besides bootlicking Prachanda and Sumargi, what have you done?”

“What is the source of your power? Isn’t it Sumargi? Don’t think we don’t know. And don’t talk big.”

“Have you ever faced people? How were you nominated?”

Bidari replied: “You status does not allow you to question me why I didn’t vie in the election?”

Thinking that the interview might go out of control, Dhamala interrupted and allowed each leader two minutes to speak.

More on video:

The government will hold discussion with stakeholders and bring a new revised Guthi Bill, said Padma Kumari Aryal, minister of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.

Even after the government withdrew the controversial Guthi Bill registered at the National Assembly, thousands of protesters, especially the Newar communities from the Kathmandu Valley, gathered at Maitighar Mandala on Wednesday demanding the total cancelation of the bill.

“What is cancelation? The bill tabled in the upper house has already been withdrawn. Now, what’s left to be canceled? ” said Aryal in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

“It was not given a final shape. No discussions were held. It was proposed but withdrawn. I don’t understand why it should be canceled.”

“No bill becomes final as soon as the government presents it. After a bill is tabled in the parliament, discussions and interactions are held on the proposal before it is sent to the committee including their suggestions. The committee then holds consultations with the stakeholders. Next, it is sent to the parliament and where it is rediscussed before being endorsed,” she said.

“A bill goes through a long process before it becomes a law.”

“The Guthi Bill was only proposed in the parliament. But why are not they ready to hold consultation? ”

“After the public pressure, we withdrew the bill… but for now.”

“Now, we will consult with the stakeholders and bring a revised Guthi Bill.”

“Even Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said the bill can be corrected. I have said that.

Aryal claimed that the ministry had frequently called stakeholders to hold a discussion on the bill.

“We had said we were ready to make necessary correction in the bill. But even after a frequent request, they refused the call and took to the streets.”

“There was no need for a demonstration.”

On the eve of the biggest protest since the 2006 People’s Movement–the main opposition party Nepali Congress also expressed solidarity with the protest against the bill. The NC obstructed the parliament and barred Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli from addressing the House about the Guthi Bill and his recent Europe visit.

Asked will the government not heed the demand to cancel the bill and not to reintroduce it again, she said, “If it is so? Why did they write in the constitution that they need Guthi Bill? Didn’t all the parties sign the constitution? Do they have moral rights to raise the issue? The constitution states that the government should bring the Guthi laws.”

During the demonstration, the protesters also demanded the resignation of Minister Aryal and Communication and Information technology Minister Gokul Baskota.

Minister Aryal said, “It is their freedom to speak their views. What do we have to do is upon us.”

“Controversy is not a big thing. It’s a democracy. People have the right to express their opinion and speak their voice. Based on that, corrections are made.”

In a query that the Kathmandu based Newars have said the bill failed to represent them, Aryal said, “Guthi experts were involved in drafting the bill.”

“We have called the representatives,” she claimed.

According to her, the bill was introduced to protect the culture, religion and century-old tradition.

This year Nepal Government issued permits to record 381 climbers to scale the Mount Everest as part of the —making the 2019 season one of the busiest climbing season ever.

However, the government’s biggest push to commercialize the world highest peak face criticisms for poor management and traffic jam and issuing of permits to more climbers that it could handle bringing the way authorities manage Everest under massive scrutiny.

This season has been the deadliest climbing season with 11 deaths on Everest. Many climbers and media have claimed that some of the deaths this year were caused by the traffic jam on the way to the top which made the climbers wait for hours on the way up and down.

During an interview with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, the BBC had presented a documentary report on Everest expedition this season. In the documentary, the BBC claimed that of the total 60 liaison officers deployed at the base camp to regulate the expedition team, only five were on the duty.

“Did that revelation disturb you?” Mathew Amliwala had asked PM Oli. But Oli was without a concrete answer.

Oli also claimed that the situation is not as worse as it is rumored and the reason behind the deaths was not due to the crowd.

In contrast to BBC claim, the Department of Tourism, two days later, said that only 15 of the deployed 37 officials for the 44 expedition teams had not reached the base camp, according to a report by Onlinekhabar.

Many of the liaison officers who did not reach the base camp said they were unable to reach there due to their health condition, it further said.

Mountaineer Pemba Dorje Sherpa also denied the reports that too many people on the Everest were the cause of deaths.

‘No, climbers do not die due to traffic jam,” said the 20 time Everest summiteer in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

“Most of the deaths are due to inexperience and weather condition. Ascending Everest is itself a risky business. There is always a danger of avalanches and blizzards,” he said.

“When the queue is longer, climbers may suffer from cold and frostbite. There is also a risk of running out of oxygen. But we cannot blame traffic jam for the climbers’ deaths.”

“Of course, overcrowding has been a problem that needs to be addressed. To avoid such crowds the government should issue 300 or fewer permits in the coming year.”

Related coverage

Melting glaciers exposing dead bodies on Mount Everest

Commercial mountaineering has turned Everest into high-altitude rubbish dump

Another major concern about Everest is the heap of trash left by the mountain expeditioners. Although the government has launched Everest clean-up drive from time to time, the rubbish such as fluorescent tents, discarded climbing equipment, empty gas canisters and even human excrement litter the route to the summit of the 8,848-meter (29,029-foot) peak which has made the world’s tallest peak look ugly.

Sherpa said that the government should give Everest a rest for at least a year to give space for clean-up campaign.

He was of the view that the government should deploy mountaineers or Nepal Army personnel instead of inexperienced government employees to clean the Everest.

Asked why the group of mountaineers deployed to clean the Everest did not clean the trash, he said, “The government officials who were on the base camp did not pay the climbers. Why would the mountaineers work?”

According to him, the Sherpa mountaineers were made the victim of politics in the name of trash collection by some corrupt government officials.

“They take money for cleaning the mountain and don’t pay the mountaineers. We even filed written complaints at the Tourism Board. But, they don’t listen,” he said.

He also suggested the government take concrete measures before it is too late.

“Along with clean-up drive, the government should think about not letting garbage on the Everest.”

On Saturday evening, Rishi Dhamala invited Rastriya Prajatantra Party (United) Chairman Pashupati Shumsher JBR in one of the most popular talkshow Janata Jana Chahanchan broadcast on Prime Times television.

The discussion was focused on RPP’s lobbying on the reinstatement of Nepal as a Hindu state and revival of the monarchy in the country. Show host Dhamala, also the president of Reporters’ Club Nepal, and Rana also talked about Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s visits to foreign countries.

When they were debating on RPP’s agenda of Hindu state and monarchy, Rana started referring Dhamala using the word ‘timi’ a less polite Nepali word for the second person singular word ‘you’.

Rana was arguing that President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s luxurious living style was not suitable for a poor and developing country like Nepal.

“This is a democracy. Prez Bhandari makes people keel who reaches Sital Niwas to receive tika. Is this behavior appropriate?”

“It is biased. Therefore, we have thought of replacing the president with the monarchy.”

When Dhamala asked Rana how he came to stand in favor of monarchy when he, in a face-to-face interaction program in Reporters’ Club, had clearly maintained his party is a Republican party, Rana replied, “Yes, but the president could not be fair. She craves for luxury and power. So, instead of a person who has an obsession with luxury and power, we have thought it could be if we reviving the older organization, king.”

“Rishi le sunya xou, (you have heard) about the debate on executive president…”

Dhamala interrupted saying, “The directly elected executive president is a need.”

When Rana said, “Sunana (Listen)…

Dhamala’s patience broke and he said, “Don’t say sunana, say sunnus Pashupati Shumsher ji”.

“You should apologize.”

Sunya xou andSunana are the verbs are used with the less formal and less polite word timi. The use of such words is not generally applicable in the formal programs.

Then Rana said, “Sorry! No problem. I said ‘timi’ because I am used to calling you like this. We are familiar with each other… so it came… but it’s okay.”

“No, in an interview, you have to use the word tapai,” said Dhamala.

According to chair Rana, a monarchy that is acceptable to all the people should be established.

In the interview, Rana also said that Prime Minister Oli’s frequent state visits to foreign countries have not been beneficial.

“I think the PM is making tourist visit.”

“State visits should have the purpose of harboring benefits in the country’s interest. What has the country achieved from PM’s Vietnam and Cambodia visits?

“PM’s current visit to the United Kingdom is also not suitable at a moment because of the instability created following the resignation of British Prime Minister Theresa May,” he said.

He also said that the government with a two-thirds majority has not done anything notable.

Where is the post-mortem report? Why was the house where the mass shooting occurred destroyed?

The inquiry panel’s investigation into the royal massacre was full of weakness and imperfection since no post-mortem examination on the victims’ body was performed, said Neer Shah.

Shah’s elder brother Khadga Bikram Shah and sister-in-law Sharada Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah–a sister of Late King Birendra Shah, were two of the ten members killed in mass shooting during a monthly reunion dinner of the royal family at a house on the grounds of Narayanhiti Royal Palace on June 1, 2001. King Birendra and his family members Queen Aishwarya, Crown Prince Deependra, Princess Shruti and Princess Nirajan were killed in the massacre, which is considered a black night in Nepal’s history.

Shah, also a movie actor and director, said he was attending a success party of a movie when he heard the news about the royal killings.

“A cousin of mine had called to inform about the incident. I, then, rushed to the Military Hospital, Chhauni. My brother and his wife were already dead then,” recalls Shah, talking to Rishi Dhamala at Prime Times Television’s talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan.

“Bishow Bikram Shah, a secretary of the palace, told me about details of the incident. He said he heard that Crown Prince Deependra opened fire at the royal members.”

“Later I asked the survivors who were physically present during the mass shooting. I asked Gorakh Sumsher, Ketaki Chester. They said it was Prince Deependra who first opened fire on King Birendra.”

A two-member inquiry panel comprising Keshav Prasad Upadhaya, chief justice of the Supreme Court and Taranath Ranabhat, speaker of the House of Representatives formed to probe into the royal killings, after interviewing more than a hundred people including eyewitnesses and palace officials, guards and staff, concluded that “the drunken crown prince indiscriminately opened fired killing the royals”.

“I am not happy with the investigation. I did not even get to see the post-mortem report of my family. No autopsy was performed.”

“I even asked where the post-mortem report was. They said no post-mortem was done.”

“I lost three members of my family. When my mother heard the news, she immediately died in shock.”

“I will never forget the tragic incident,” he said.

Eighteen years have passed but the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the massacre is still unanswered given the details such as apparent lack of security at the palace, absence of Gyanendra Shah, right-handed Deependra’s self-inflicted head wound on his left temple, presence of two bullets inside his temple instead of one and lack of any major forensic analysis.

“The mass shooting of the royal members including the King and Queen during a reunion party could not be the result of spontaneity. It could have been planned for years.”

“How could the security fail to protect the head of the state inside the well-guarded palace?” he wondered.

“The incident became a mystery because it lacked proof. The process of investigation was flawed.”

“Everybody made an assumption on how it happened, which added more mystery to the incident. A large community believes that Deependra is not the killer.”

“The first thing done after a murder takes places is the post-mortem examination. The investigation is moved ahead on the basis of the police report. Even if one has witnessed a murder, it needs the post-mortem report to be proved.”

“Why was the post-mortem report of the dead bodies of the royal massacre not prepared?”

“I don’t know about the others. But I have the right to know about the post-mortem report of my brother and sister-in-law. I still demand it.”

“The United States government has protected the JK Kennedy murder site. Why was the house in Narayanhiti where the mass shooting occurred demolished?”

“Later, the palace issued a press release which no people were ready to believe.”

Deependra was proclaimed king while in a coma. He died after three days. Following Deependra’s death, King Birendra’s brother Gyanendra ascended himself to the throne. While Deependra was in living, Gyandendra issued a press release maintaining that the deaths were the result of “accidental discharge of an automatic weapon” within the royal palace. Gyanendra’s wife Komal had also survived the mass shooting.

“How can you believe this? How can people believe that the deaths occurred due to the accidental discharge of automatic weapon?

Shah also said that the dispute over Deependra’s love affair and marriage choice could be one of the reasons he could have killed his father Birendra.

Rumors say that Deependra was angry that the royal family was in position the crown price should not marry Devyani Rana, daughter of Pashupati Shumsher Junga Bahadur Rana, because she had relatives in India.

“Many say that the marriage dispute could be one of the reasons. But, I am not sure about it,” Shah shrugged.

“I cannot say the massacre happened only because of the dispute in marriage.”

Shah said the state should be ready to find out the truth behind the killing of the royal family.