Monarchy is not an alternative to republic: Home Minister

Surkhet, March 9 — Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has warned former King Gyanendra Shah that the monarchy is not an alternative to the republic and advised him not to be encouraged.

He issued this warning during a brief conversation with journalists in Surkhet on Sunday morning.

“Some people are spreading the illusion that monarchy is an alternative to the republic,” Lekhak said. “There is no need for the king to be encouraged by that illusion.”

Lekhak also urged the former king not to believe that the people who overthrew the monarchy through movements and revolutions will bring him back in a democracy.

He added, “Democracy is a system where, in general, the king of a monarchy that was overthrown by a revolution or movement enjoys freedom in the same country. It is rare to see such a history.”

He said that despite the people’s overthrow of the monarchy, the former king enjoys all the freedoms, and this is the beautiful aspect of democracy, not a weakness.

He also cautioned the former king not to take this as a weakness of democracy.

When asked about the security arrangements as the former king is returning to Kathmandu from Pokhara, Lekhak confirmed that the security measures have been heightened.