Gyanendra Shahi: Monarchy removed through deception, not public mandate

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi has claimed that Nepal’s monarchy was not abolished through a public mandate or a popular uprising but rather through deception and external influence.

Speaking during a session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Shahi emphasized that questioning someone’s political beliefs is inappropriate.

Referring to former King Gyanendra Shah as a “tiger,” he stated, “A cat cannot become a tiger just because it shares the same color. A tiger remains a tiger, even if it grows old.”

Shahi further argued that many current political parties were born with foreign support. “Whether you talk about the 12-point agreement or where the leaders were hiding, it’s all well documented,” he said. “Former ambassadors have spoken openly about this.

Even the then Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, admitted in Parliament that Nepal’s monarchy was removed with foreign backing. This constitution and system were essentially imposed by them.”

He added, “A nationalist is always a nationalist. The monarchy is an integral part of Nepal’s history. You can’t replace it with a substitute and expect the same identity.”

Shahi’s comments come amid ongoing debates in Parliament over the policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year, highlighting a renewed push by the RPP to advocate for a reconsideration of the monarchy’s removal and the foreign role in shaping Nepal’s current political system.