King should take responsibility of every action: Former Minister

Kathmandu, July 15 (UNI) Former Home Minister Kamal Thapa has said all the members of the royal cabinet, including King Gyanendra, should take responsibility for suppressing people during the anti-king demonstration in Nepal.

"Every member of the cabinet should be ready to take responsibility for every action of the previous government," Mr Thapa told journalists after being grilled by the high level Commission formed to probe the atrocities.

"As I was then the Home Minister, I am ready to bear responsibility for the killings and suppression," The Himalayan Times quoted Mr Thapa as saying.

"But moral responsibility should be taken by every member of the cabinet though we did not formally decide to kill and suppress people," he said.

Mr Thapa also claimed that the King did not order them to do anything but was serious to resolve the problems.

At least 21 people, including one Indian national were killed and more than 5,000 injured during the anti-king demonstration across the country in April.

The royal government was condemned for the excessive use of force to control the anti king protestors, who were demanding the end of monarchy rule in the Himalayan nation.

UNI XFC VA KP1117