Kathmandu, Nepal (AP) – Thousands of supporters have hailed The former King of Nepal Sunday, in the capital, Kathmandu demanded that his abolished monarchy be restored and that Hinduism has brought back as a state religion.
It is estimated that 10,000 supporters of Gyanendra Shah blocked the main entrance to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu when he arrived in western Nepal.
“The royal palace version for the king. Come back, save the country. Long live our beloved king. We want a monarchy, ”sang the crowd. The passengers were forced to walk to the airport and from the airport.
Hundreds of riot police officers prevented the demonstrators from entering the airport and there were no violence.
Massive street demonstrations in 2006 forced Gyanendra to abandon its authoritarian domination, and two years later, the Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy while Gyanendra left the Royal Palace to live the life of a commoner.
But many Nepalese have become frustrated by the Republic, claiming that it has failed to cause political stability and to blame it for an economy in difficulty and generalized corruption. Nepal had 13 governments since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.
Rally participants said they hoped for a change in the political system to prevent the country from deteriorating.
“We are there to give the king our full support and to join us behind him all the way to reinstall him on the royal throne,” said Thir Bahadur Bhandari, 72.
Among the thousands of people, the 50 -year -old carpenter Kulraj Shrestha, who had participated in the 2006 demonstrations against the king, but changed his mind and now supports the monarchy.
“The worst thing that happens to the country is massive corruption and all power politicians do nothing for the country,” said Shrestha. “I was in the demonstrations that removed the monarchy hoping that it would help the country, but I was wrong and the nation has plunged again, so I changed my mind.”
Gyanendra did not comment on the calls for the return of the monarchy. Despite Growing support for the former king, Gyanendra has a slim chance of immediately returning to power.
He became the king in 2002, after his brother and family were massacred in the palace. He ruled as the Head of Constitutional State without executive or political powers until 2005, when he seized absolute power. He dissolved the government and the Parliament, imprisoned politicians and journalists and cut communications, declaring a state of emergency and using the army to govern the country.