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Two Krishnas’ Visit to Nagarjuna Palace
By KTM Reporter in Kathmandu
On June 09, 2008, Minister for Home Affairs Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara visited the summer palace of the former king, Gyane. This was the first time any commoner has access to this palace. It belongs to the Government of Nepal.
After the former king, Gyane begged the Home Minister for making the Nagarjuna palace available for immediately shifting from the Narayanhity palace as ordered by the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008, the Government of Nepal agreed to the plea of Gyane. According to the Radio Nepal’s 7:00 morning news, the former king is preparing to leave the Narayanhity palace for the Nagarjuna palace on June 10, 2008.
Most of the common Nepalis are against giving the state-owned Nagarjuna palace even for a temporary residence to the former king, as he could make an arrangement for his residence on his own. He is more than billionaire; he has even trillion worth of assets according to the former palace official, Dr. Sanu Bhai Dongol whereas majority of common Nepalis have no roofs over their heads.
On June 09, 2008, civil society leaders held a rally at the Mandala, Kathmandu to protest against the Government’s decision on giving the Nagarjuna palace to the former king for a temporary residence. Minister for Home Giriraj Mani Pokharel also protested against the Government’s decision and put the note of his dissent on the decision.
The Nagarjuna Palace premises have ten residential buildings; they are of a common type not of a palace according to the Minister for Home Affairs Sitaula and Minister for Information Mahara agreed on it. The buildings are located on 4,000 hectares of land. Nine staffs are on duty.
The government needs to charge the former king for using those buildings. The rent needs to be at least Rs. 50, 000 per building, and Rs 500, 000 for ten building per months considering the prevailing rent in the Kathmandu Valley. Former king Gyane should not receive it free.
Former king Gyane’s stepmother Ratna and grandmother Sarala Gorkhalai (Manandhar according to ‘Gorkhapatra’) wanted to stay on in the Narayanhity palace. Ratna even claimed that the building she had been living was her private property. She knew how to make the public property her private.
