The last Hindu king of the country, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, made news Monday by turning up at a ritual prayer called by a self-styled Hindu godman to seek the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion.
Only 81 days are left for the promulgation of a new constitution that will consolidate Nepal as a secular republic.
The deposed king, accompanied by his wife, the former queen Komal, went to the Bankali forest area adjoining the revered Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu where a Nepali baba who has followers in both India and Nepal is conducting a maha yajna.
The Sahasra Rudrachandi yajna begun by Kalidas Dahal aka Kali Baba from March 1 and to be continued for nine days has been drawing thousands of devout Hindus, including Nepal’s politicians as well as constitutional heads.
The ritual worship, calling for the restoration of Nepal as a Hindu state, has been attended by Nepal’s Vice-President Paramanand Jha, Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Gachhedar and new Education and Sports Minister Sarbendra Nath Shukla.
While the communist and Maoist leaders have yet not been seen at the prayers, Sushil Koirala, one of the top leaders of the Nepali Congress, the biggest party in the coalition government, has paid obeisance to the baba.
The former king’s arrival Monday was greeted with cheers by the crowd.
Wearing several garlands, Gyanendra spoke to the media briefly, saying Nepal should be reinstated as a Hindu state as per people's desire.
It would bring peace, he said, adding “Victory to a Hindu state”.
Last month, the only royalist party in the country, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, enforced a general strike in Kathmandu valley and blockaded the prime minister’s office demanding the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion.
The royalist party is also seeking the reinstatement of monarchy and wants the government to hold a referendum on both issues before the new constitution comes into effect May 28.
King Gyanendra lost his crown in 2008 after trying to grab power with the help of the army and enforcing a series of repressive ordinances, including a ban on any criticism of the royal family. However, bad governance by the succeeding governments and the continuous bickering among the parties for power has made the people disenchanted with the new rulers as well.
There is now growing fear that the parties are trying to derail the new constitution in a bid to hold on to power. Once a new constitution is enforced, they will have to call a general election within six months.