Security agencies remove photos of King

Kathmandu, May 12 (UNI) Nepal Police and Armed Police Force removed the photos of suspended King Gyanendra and Queen Komal from their offices across the country.

Even after removing all powers of the King, Nepal Police and Armed Police force had kept the photos of the royals intact.

There was pressure from the public and we removed photos of the suspended king and queen from all the offices across the country, Kantipur quoted a senior police officer as saying.

Nepal Army has still kept the photos of Gyanendra and Komal in its offices, it is said. The government has not said anything whether to keep or remove the photos so we have not given any instructions to the army, a senior official at the defence ministry is quoted as saying.

King was forced to give up his dictatorial rule following the massive uprising across the country last year. The parliament has stripped him off all power and the monarchy has been suspended in the new interim constitution.

Anger against the king is so high that the public have destroyed the statues of the Kings during the demonstrations across the country.

The Prime Minister has been discharging the role of the head of state in the new constitution. Even the ambassadors of the foreign countries have started to present the letter of credence to the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the government has presented a bill in the parliament clipping the King's authority of conferring awards, honours and decorations.

Under the new system, a committee under the Prime Minister will be formed to confer awards, honours and decorations from now onwards. The committee will include Home Minister, Defence Minister, Information and Communication Minister, Education and Sports Minister, chief secretary and one nominee by the PM from among distinguished personalities, it is said.

In the past, the king used to confer awards and decorations on the occasion of his birthday. Such awards will be conferred on the occasion of national democracy day only.

The names of the decorations and awards have also been changed and there is no name of the royals in such honours, an official said. The number of such honour, decorations and awards have also been reduced to around one dozen from around three dozens during the King's time.

UNI