Deputy prime minister requests Mustangi King to step down

Kathmandu, Oct 9 (UNI) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam met Mustangi King Jigme Palbar Bista at the latter's palace and requested him to step down voluntarily as the kingship has ended in the country, local media said here today.

The monarchy in Mustang is older than that of the Shah dynasty and King Bista holds significant cultural power and influence in the small tiny remote district bordering with Tibet.

I have delivered the Government's message to King Bista, who stands as the symbol of culture preservation, with due respect, Kantipur quoted Mr Gautam as saying.

Nepal has abolished monarchy and declared it a federal democratic republic on May 28 by a landslide majority of votes. Only four votes were cast in favour of monarchy in the 601 CA ending the 240 years of monarchy in the Himalayan nation.

The system of monarchy still exists in four different parts of the country - Mustang, Bajhang, Salyan and Jajarkot.

UNI XC PD PM1555