After the caretaker Government of Nepal imposed ban on Nepal's former Hindu King Gyanendra Shah from taking part
in a program wherein he was to felicitate nine former Kumaris-the living Goddesses, the organizers of the program have declared that they will also bar Nepal's first president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav from taking part in the Indra-Jatra festival to be held today, September 22, 2010.
The felicitation of Kumaris by the Kings of Nepal began during the reign of King Pratap Malla (1641-1674 A.D.), say historians.
Since then the program has remained intact.
"Today the government has kept the King under house arrest, tomorrow the general public will stop the president from taking part in the Indra Jatra ceremony", declared Rajan Maharjan, the chairman of the youth affiliate of World Hindu Federation.
The caretaker government led by Constituent Assembly Election defeated prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in a hasty decision had stopped Nepal's Former sovereign from taking part in the program to be held at Basantapur Durbar Square area in Kathmandu, September 21, 2010.
The Indrajatra festival will also be organized in the Basantapur Durbar Square area.
It is reported that the government had kept the King under house arrest following security threats.
But, that did not deter the organizers.
The program to felicitate the Nine Kumaris and 504 pre-pubescent girls began right by felicitating the former King not in person but his glass framed picture. The organizers who were in an enraged mood after the government decision decided to straight head towards Nirmal Nivas where the former King resides along with his family members.
It was earlier planned that the former monarch would arrive at the Basantapur Square at 11:00 AM. Attractive banners with catchy slogans like "His Majesty the King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev" were put on display in the vicinity of the program venue. The security personnel later had uprooted the welcome gates constructed at the Basantapur Square and tore apart the banners mentioning His Majesty the King.
"We still take him as the incarnation of Lord Bishnu, who are those 601 bunch of corrupt men to sideline the King", asked Rajan Maharjan talking to a Television Channel.
"Can we sideline our parents", questioned Maharjan.
"We had invited him as our King but the government stopped him", also said Maharjan.
Reports have it that the enraged organizers made a telephone call to the Former King and were told that the King was ready to felicitate the Kumaris at his personal residence.
The ceremony began at 06:00 PM.
"I would like to heartily thank you for supporting me even when the government has kept me under house arrest", commented the former King upon meeting the program organizers along with the former Kumaris who had arrived at his personal residence.
While the felicitation program was being held at Nirmal Nivas, hundreds of Armed Police Personnel were positioned by the government at the main gate of the King's residence.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Jaymukunda Khanal in the meantime refuting reports that the King has been put under house arrest permanently says, "He can indeed take part in any religious programs as a normal citizen…no decisions as such have been made to stop him from going anywhere".
"The decision to stop him today has been taken considering security threats", said Khanal.
Reports however claim that the government has already told the former King Gyanendra that he will not be allowed to take part in any programs or whatsoever until the approaching Dashain and Tihar Festivals were over.
Bhim Acharya, the chief whip of the United Marxist Leninists' Party just the other day had warned the former king and his family members to stop being involved in religious activities or else they will be put under arrest by the government.
Mr. Acharya made the remark talking to journalists in Ithari of Sunsari District, September 20, 2010.
Analysts claim that the current House Arrest of the former Nepal sovereign do tell that a political hurricane of the highest order is in the making in Nepal. In what form this blizzard will hit Nepal can't be predicted as of now.
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