Govt removes bill boards of King's quotations

Kathmandu, May 22: Three days after the historic proclamation of the parliament to limit the role of the King as a ceremonial head, Department of Information has started removing all hoardings bearing the quotations of King Gyanendra in various parts of the capital here.

About 149 bill boards were installed here after the take over by king Gyanendra on February one last year, media reports said.

Each bill board costs Rs 11,000, it is said.

''We have decided to remove all hoardings carrying the king's quotations considering people's vehement dissatisfaction against the king during the recent democratic uprising,'' the Kantipur quoted Kedar Bhattarai, administration officer at the department as saying.

King's message boards were erased and some were destroyed during the people's movement last year.

Youths and students have destroyed some of the boards after the historic declaration of the House last week that cut the power of the king and declared Parliament as the supreme body.

Mr Bhattarai said that protestors have erased the name of the king on most of the remaining boards. ''This made us realise there is no meaning in keeping things that people dislike.'' Nine hoardings with the message of the king in English were also installed on the road leading to the royal palace from the international airport.

The boards were solely aimed at giving a false impression to visiting foreign dignitaries that the king was fully committed to the norms and values of democracy, the media quoted the official as saying.

UNI

Related Stories