Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of Nepal spoke out on Monday about the idea of bringing back the monarchy. He believes this move would create political chaos and not help either Nepal or India. Bhattarai was key in turning Nepal from a monarchy into a republic in 2008 and said that the monarchy has always been autocratic, not supportive of the people.
He thinks that the recent protests for the old king, Gyanendra Shah, are really about people feeling let down by the current government. “How would bringing back an autocratic king help India?” Bhattarai asked. “It would only lead to uncivil unrest, and most people don’t want the monarchy back.”
He reminded everyone that millions rallied to end the monarchy in the 1990s. Now, only around 20,000 took part in the recent pro-monarchy protests. “What’s done is done. We will keep moving ahead,” he said. Bhattarai served as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2013 and now leads the Nepal Socialist Party. He sees the current protests as a chance to improve society.
Ending the monarchy led to “a democratic shift” in Nepal, which will always be a secular and democratic republic. “Going backward isn’t the solution. We can fix the Constitution where it’s lacking,” he added.
Recent protests in March resulted in two deaths and many injuries. Supporters of Gyanendra demand the monarchy’s return and want Nepal to be a Hindu state again. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli worries about Indian involvement in these protests. While Bhattarai didn’t comment on India’s role, he called the monarchy’s return “unhelpful.”
He also rejected claims that Nepal is moving closer to China, saying that Nepal heavily relies on India, with 67% of trade with India and only 14% with China. “No Nepalese leader would be foolish enough to use China against India,” he explained.
After meetings with India’s defense minister Rajnath Singh and leaders from major political parties, Bhattarai recognized India’s worries about ongoing political instability in Nepal. He called this instability a result of an “unfinished revolution” and suggested a system where the president is directly elected, along with a fully proportional parliament, to create stability with proper checks and balances.
He emphasized that Nepal can’t thrive without a good relationship with India, especially when it comes to money and trade. He suggested that the prime ministers of both countries should meet to resolve old issues, including a boundary dispute.
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