Hundreds greet Nepal’s ex-king on his birthday as support for the ousted monarch grows

KATHMANDU Nepal AP Hundreds of supporters of Nepal s former king lined up outside his residence to greet him on his th birthday Monday as patronage for the ousted monarch grows in the Himalayan nation Gyanendra Shah who makes very scarce populace appearances allowed his supporters inside his house for three hours Supporters lined up outside with flower garlands bouquets cards gifts and various food items which are traditionally offered during special occasions in Nepalese heritage Bring king back to the throne and save the country We love our king more than our lives chanted the loyalists a large number of wearing traditional attire Nepal abolished the monarchy and turned the nation into a republic in bringing in a president as the head of the state There has been growing demand in contemporary months for Shah to be reinstated as king and Hinduism to be brought back as a state religion Royalist groups accuse the country s major political parties of corruption and failed governance and say people are frustrated with politicians People were looking for change and they removed the king hoping that it would be beneficial for the country but that was very untrue and the political parties repeatedly betrayed people s trust declared retired worker Kula Prasad Bhattarai who stood in line for hours outside the king s residence The politicians have damaged our nation declared Divesh Singh Hamal another supporter We need to bring the king back or else our country will be finished Gyanendra was a constitutional head of state without executive or political powers until when he seized absolute power He disbanded the administration and parliament jailed politicians and journalists and cut off communications declaring a state of exigency and using the army to rule the country Advocacy for the ousted monarch has risen in new months Tens of thousands of protesters demanding the restoration of the monarchy and the former king be made head of state demonstrated in May In March at least two people died when another rally turned violent as supporters of the ex-king clashed with riot police Massive street protests in forced Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule and two years later the parliament voted to abolish the monarchy Gyanendra who left the royal palace to live as a commoner has not commented on the calls for the restoration of the monarchy Despite growing encouragement the former king has little chance of this instant returning to power Source