http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=1089112
Nepal king's guards halved after goddess row
8 Hour,56 minutes Ago

Kathmandu, Oct 2 (IANS) Already facing an election that could lead to the abolition of his crown, Nepal's King Gyanendra has received a fresh blow with a furious Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala accusing him of trying to challenge the government and slashing the number of his soldier guards as punishment.



The stars forsook the cornered king once again when his visit to a temple to perform a traditional ritual landed him in the centre of an angry row.

On Sunday, the king had visited the site of the traditional Hindu festival, Indrajatra, held in honour of the rain god, to receive the blessings of Kumari, Nepal's Living Goddess.

Traditionally, the Kumari is regarded as the protector of Nepal's dynasty of kings. The failure to be blessed by her is regarded as a bad omen that could lead to the defeat and banishment of the royal family.

In the past, attending the festival and receiving the goddess' blessings was a royal prerogative.

However, this year, ending a nearly 250-year-old tradition, the government gave the privilege to the prime minister, who has replaced the king as head of state.

Apparently due to the strong beliefs associated with the worship, King Gyanendra, who this year endured other curbs on his religious activities, made a low-key visit to the goddess' residence after Koirala had attended the official ceremony.

The royal visit triggered an outburst of anger from Koirala, who regarded it as a challenge to his authority.

The furious prime minister, who in the past had been a stout champion of the monarchy, reportedly had an angry conversation with the king's principal secretary, wanting to know why the monarch had attended the festival without informing the government.

Soon after the phone conversation, Koirala summoned the chief of the army, Gen Rookmangud Katuwal, reportedly accusing the army of also supporting the visit.

After Katuwal denied the army having any prior knowledge of the royal visit, Koirala ordered him to reduce the strength of the troops present in the royal palace by half.

Currently, about 3,000 soldiers of the Nepal Army are deployed in the Narayanhity palace for the protection of the king and Queen Komal.

Though in the past parliament had asked the government to slash their number, the Koirala government had failed to implement it.

The prime minister's order is, however, being viewed with scepticism by the Maoists who say it was an excuse to hold secret consultations with palace officials and the army chief.

In the past, parliament ordered a series of measures to curb the powers and privileges of the royal family, including nationalising the property King Gyanendra inherited from his ancestors and the land he owns in excess of the land ceiling act.

However, virtually none of the orders has been implemented.

Meanwhile, royalists have been protesting against the state clampdown on the king's religious activities, saying it was his right to attend religious festivals if he wanted to.



Sudeshna Sarkar
(Indo-Asian News Service)

What's the big deal. Let him go anywhere he wishes.....I won't be surprised if the day comes when giriaja complains that king went to bathroom....

My point is why make bid deal of nothing...there are important things to worry about. He never spoke a word when three bombs blasted and innocent bystanders died..

Let the King go anywhere he wants and visit anyone he wishes. He does not need GPK's permission. Besides, Gyane went as a commoner. It was GPK who went to Hindu/Buddhist festival as a head of the state (the state that was declared secular).

NA

Niloakash yeap a secular state indeed. What a bunch of hypocrites those politicians.

It's interesting why this was not reported in Nepali newspapers.

Next thing to be reported in the Kerela Newspaper and some australian newspapers would be.

Girija angered by King's fart, cuts down the kitchen staff by half

I think all old politician are loosing thier mind, now mr. PM Koirala proved as one of them is him.
King has his own gard and let him do what ever he does unless that is political and has direct or indirect impact. It is religious visit within the city and what a big deal, and they are doing since the kingdom transferred to Kathmandu. I do not think Nepalese people would like to hear such stupidity.

BUNCH OF STUPID PERSON AND THEIR STUPIDITY WE HAVE TO READ AND HEAR.

. whttttt...girija angry re....ahilepani?? II kumaris and kumar blessed him not very long back...that sanctifying should have made him very happy very cheerful for the rest of his life...
kahile khusi nahune....acchhamma cha baaa

what the fu..ing problem with these chor bahun leaders!! kill them all!!

Poll Question
What is your opinion on monarchy?
Result

43.4% Continue with Gyanendra
11.4% Pass it on to grandchild
37.2% Not worth the trouble to keep
8% Won't make a difference

Total votes : 6269
Back

Girija was mad because Kumari did not gave a blessing on him. In Hanumandhoka too, the chariot of Kumari did not stop before him. Besides, there were angry people shouting against him at both places. I think he became particularly mad when he was given the news that people did jaya jayakar of the king even no body was aware of his visit. This vulture always boast of people support, but in reality he never has.

If you look at the historical reason behind Indrajatra it is very closely related to king. It was kumari how gave curse to king long time ago. Hence indrajatra was celebrated.

There is no point primeminister visiting Kumari. You either abolish indrajatra or let king visit kumari.

Yo gidde budo ko marne bela ma dimag ghas khana gaecha . tyasaile Terrorist sanga haat milai milai hidi ra cha.

Either Abolish the culture or follow accordingly .Ke ko natak ni??Till now king exists he should go ..if he doesn't remain king then he should not.
I don't think it was cultural clause that HEAD of STATE will get blessing from Kumari.
So now what ..If a muslim becomes a Head Of state ..he will go and touch kumari's feet ??hahaha..joker politicians..

i am agree with the guys who says let him gane do wht ever he wants.

I don't think the King broke any laws when he visited Kumari. That had been his family tradition for years. And after all, monarchy has not been abolished .. yet. So, traditionally, King should still be allowed to be blessed by the living goddess.

As for the monarchy vs republic, I think Nepal is still not ready for republic. As we have seen already, bahutantra = bahu-kings .. everyone, spearheaded by the mighty GPK, wants to be king.

in my humble opinion, we should still retain monarchy, PROVIDED we have the scandinavian model of monarchy and NOT the British model. Scandinavian monarchs, specially the Norwegian royal family live as virtual commoners, and their children attend public schools. They wear ordinary clothes and they live as a "normal" family. And on top of that, the Royal family should not be immune to any laws of the country. If that happens, and the Nepalese royal family abide by it, the monarchy will regain popularity. (The approval rating for monarchy in Norway is around 70%).

Trishul, is that true?? Now i think this might be a reason why Girija is angry. But i am not sure if he is angry.

Trishul, is that true?? Now i think this might be a reason why Girija is angry. But i am not sure if he is angry.

“What's the big deal. Let him go anywhere he wishes.....I won't be surprised if the day comes when giriaja complains that king went to bathroom....

My point is why make bid deal of nothing...there are important things to worry about. He never spoke a word when three bombs blasted and innocent bystanders died..” – Kathmandubasi

You took the words out of my mouth.

If GPK wants to display his manliness he should show the courage to stand up to abominable Maoist excesses that need urgent attention, not roar at a docile and benevolent king who ostensibly in his eyes committed an unpardonable “sin” by daring to offer his prayers to the living goddess at Basantapur Durbar. Even the authoritarian regimes in China and Myanmar don’t go this far. It totally beggars belief. Most of us are God-fearing and we routinely visit temples/Mosques every so often in Nepal. Why should the king be barred from worshiping Gods and Goddesses? Is that the biggest sin that the king can commit? Why do we have such a low tolerance threshold for the king while we are willing to put up with horrible atrocities from both the political parties and Maoists without batting an eyelid?

यो भारतिय दलाल गिरिजाको राष्र्टपतिको चाहना कहिल्यै पुरा नहोस । नेपाली माटोलाइ आफु मरेपछि डुमै राजा भन्ने मानसिकता लियेका नास्तिक कोइरालालाइ धर्म सस्क्रितिंको मुद्दा माथि किन किचलो । दाइको राजनैतिक सम्बन्धको आडमा कुख्याति कमाएकाले दाइकै भारतिय दलालितालाइ मुर्तरुप दिनु यो अन्तिम घडिमा आश्चर्यजनक रहेन । हो राजालाइ जनमानसको त्रास देखाएर सिधा बनाउनु नभए फा्ल्नु पर्छ तर एउटा दोरजेले व्यक्तिगत रिसइबिको कारण मुलुकलाइ भारतिय दासतामा होम्मिदा के हालत हुन्छ सिक्किमलाइ हेर्नुहोस । भैगो छोडनुस आत्मघाति बम लगाएर एक एक भारतिय मार्ने बकमफुसे कुरा । यत्रा नेपालिहरु भागेर बिदेश पुग्दैन थिए, लुकेर बस्दैन थिए । बरु जे छ त्यसलाइ बचाउम, देश जस्तो गंभिर कुरामा पनि जुवा खे्लने कुरा गर्नुहुन्छ ? आफनो अस्तित्व जस्तोको सवालमा पनि देशलाइ प्रयोगशाला बनाएर एक्सपेरिमेन्ट गर्न चाहानुहुन्छ ? तपाइहरुले बिदेशि नागरिकता लिइसक्नु भाको भए भिन्दै कुरा ।

Imagine politicians and the so called leaders feeling the emminent threat of the King when he is merely paying his homage to the Living Goddess as part of the tradition. I also think this is stretching it too far. And with this kind of attitude I can see the ball rolling back to the Kings court and then God forbid the very people who are roaring like the mighty lion will be hiding for their safety like a mouse. The Goddess Kumari will shower her blessings on a devout person whether he be a King or a commoner and all those who have contributed to the downfall of our country should be punished too!!!

Poon-Hill, That's true. You can also ask other people who were present there on both days.

MOthafugging GIRIJA should be more worried Nepali people's welfare than to be prying on what the fug is the King doing. THis fugger has got all his fugging priority fugged up. He is more worried about his kursi than anything else.

If gyaney wants to go see the Kumari so be it. Just like any Nepali he has the right to go see her. Fugging girija needs to focus on Nepal rather than Gyaney.