| Students Demonstrate Against 'Wayward' Prince, Demand Action
Hundreds of students and supporters of different political parties block traffic and demonstrate in front of Nirmal Niwas, demanding that Prince Paras Shah be waived of Royal status and be punished. A Newslook report.
Hundreds of students and supporters of different political parties today (Tuesday, August 9) blocked traffic and demonstrated in front of Nirmal Niwas, demanding that Prince Paras Shah be waived of Royal status and be punished.
His Royal Highness prince Paras Shah, son of HRH Prince Gyanendra, had allegedly dashed a musician while driving on Sunday, August 6, in which the victim died while on way to hospital.
The protestors raised slogans against "Paras's excesses", saying that the "country was losing too much due to his unrestrained "waywardness." Police had kept guard his residence from the early morning. However, protestors demonstrated in front of his house at Maharajgunj for about one hour.
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MPs demand action against Paras
Members of parliament, both in the upper and the lower houses, are highly
critical of Prince Paras's alleged act. Just a day
following the incident, sessions at both the houses remained abuzz with voices
demanding due legal action against him.
Members from both the ruling and opposition parties were equally vocal in their
criticism of him."The government must
immediately initiate action against him," said Pradeep
Gyawali, an MP from the main opposition
CPN-UML. "He can't belet scot-free just
because he is from the Royal Family."
MP Ramesh Lekhak of the
ruling Nepali Congress said musician Gurung died on
account o f an "excess" on the part of prince Shah. "He must be
punished; this is necessary even to testify that the rule of law prevails in
the country," Lekhak said.
MP Rajendra Kharel, also
from the ruling party, said people couldn't be taken for slaves. "However
great a person's position may be, none can be spared
by the law if he is a murderer," he said.
Opposition MP Raghuji Pant suggested that, on behalf
of the entire Nepalese people, Prime Minister take the issue to His Majesty the
King and ask him to take action against Paras Shah.
Several other members of parliament just wondered as to why prompt action was
not forthcoming against the guilty of such a heinous crime.
Meanwhile, musician Gurung's wife has filed a case
with the police demanding investigation of Gurung's
death and punishment to the guilty. Home Minister Govinda
Raj Joshi said police were already investigating the
case but the police sources have so far denied having identified the vehicle
involved
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All Nepal National Free Students Union, the student wing of the left leaning Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist and Leninist) had appealed all to join the protest, keeping aside all political and ideological differences.
This is probably the first time in the Nepali history that a protest program was formally called against a member of the Royal Family in front of his own house.
The victim, musician Praveen Gurung, was performing artist with the National Theatre who also worked part time with a renowned hotel, Yak and Yeti, in the night shift. 38-year-old Gurung, who leaves over 500 compositions to his credit was returning home on his motorbike when a blue colored Pajero driven by prince Shah hit him and ran away that night. He is survived by his wife and two sons, still young.
Reports said, after some time Paras had made it out to a police post located just near the spot of the event at Durbar Marg and threatened the policemen on duty "not to leak" the matter. The Kantipur daily reported that he had "masked his face" at that time. It is said that the vehicle driven by Paras Shah at that time (around 9:00 pm local time), which numbered Ba 3 Cha 692, actually belonged to King Mahendra Nature Conservation Trust, an organization patronized by His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra.
This, however, is not the first time Prince Paras has been reported in a wayward behavior. While two deaths have already occurred due to his reckless driving, incidences of his highhanded behavior often make news in the local media. During the last general elections, he had threatened a policeman on duty with a revolver at Pulchowk in Patan and drove in his car despite official ban on vehicles during elections.
Three weeks ago, he had dashed a three-wheeler and manhandled its driver at Lainchaur, just beside the Narayanhiti Royal Palace.
Analysts say the alleged involvement of Prince Paras in the incidence has only tarnished the growing popularity in recent years of the royal institution in Nepal. This only points to the need for the members of the Royal family to care for descency and responsibility at least in the public space.
According to the constitution of the country only the King can decide on such matters involving the royal family. Analysts, however, are not skeptic about the possibility of his majesty's prompt action regarding this incident that has ingnited unprecedented public protest. It is worthwhile to recall that King Birendra had stripped his own brother prince Dhirendra of his royal title and previleges some years ago
Yet, the question now being asked is will the King respect public opinion and remove Prince Paras' immunities and privileges he enjoys as a member of the Royal Family?