Kishunji favors powerless monarchy

Senior Congress leader and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has said that he is still in favor of powerless monarchy in the country.
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (file photo)
Krishna Prasad
Bhattarai
(File Photo)

At a time when there is a growing demand for republic by the parties, especially the Maoists, and other organisations, the only surviving founding leader of Nepali Congress said he does not think going for republic will be a good idea for the country.

Talking to journalists in Bhairahawa this afternoon, Bhattarai, however, said that he does not want a powerful monarchy. He said the monarchy should be bound by constitution. He said that greed for power and money had brought this situation to the monarchy in the country.

Bhattarai, who had returned from pilgrimage to Benaras, India, added he will abide by the decision of Nepali people over the issue of monarchy. He also urged the two Congress parties to unite. He returned to the capital on Wednesday.

Bhattarai's position resembles with what his party colleague and current Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had been saying about the need to give space to ceremonial monarchy. Bhattarai has been living a life of a political recluse for the past few years. He had earlier said that he will not return to active politics until and unless the two Congress parties unite. nepalnews.com sd Feb 28 07