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Leaders positive about giving Nagarjuna palace to the ex-King

Top leaders of three major parties, Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Maoists, have positively considered the request of ex-King Gyanendra to use Nagarjuna palace for the time being, reports Kantipur daily.

During Monday’s meeting with Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, ex-King Gyanendra had requested the government to consider about his residence once he vacates the Narayanhiti royal palace.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held talks with Maoist chairman Prachanda and UML general secretary Jhalnath Khanal about this request. The daily has quotes sources as saying that the leaders were positive about providing residence to the ex-King because the latter had peacefully accepted the decision of the people.

A formal decision regarding providing Nagarjuna palace is expected to be taken by the next cabinet meeting.

The first meeting of Constituent Assembly (CA), on May 28, had implemented republic and asked the ex-King to vacate the palace within 15 days.

Meanwhile, Nepal Samacharpatra writes that the government has established two of its office inside Narayanhiti palace.

The office of the two committees – one mandated to collect the details of palace's historical artifacts and the other to formulate security plan of the palace – was established during the meeting between Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala and ex-King Gyanendra.

The office formerly used as secretariat for then crown prince Paras has been used for the office purposes. nepalnews.com sd / ia Jun 04 08