Govt sends letter to ex-king to evacuate Narayanhiti

KATHMANDU - The government Friday issued a formal letter to then king Gyanendra Shah and palace secretariat to evacuate the Narayanhiti palace within fifteen days as per the direction of the first Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting.
Despite the public holiday today, the Prime Minister’s office forwarded the letter in the name of palace secretariat this morning, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula informed.
The first CA meeting at late night on Wednesday had directed the government to evict then king Gyanendra Shah from the Narayanhiti palace within fifteen days.
The letter sent in the name of the palace secretariat mentioned to vacate the place within fifteen days after the first CA meeting.
Along with the letter, a photocopy each of the direction and proposal passed by the CA meeting to implement republic, and amendment made to the interim constitution with the provision of a president have also been dispatched.
Meanwhile, a high-level government sources have denied the rumors that the then king Gyanendra and his family left the palace last midnight, though some media had published and broadcasted such news.
Former princess Himani had gone to Narayanhiti palace for dinner and returned back to Nirmal Niwas in Maharajgunj with her relatives at around mid-night, the sources claimed.
However, the sources added that a few green trucks and vans of the Nepal Army were seen carrying the belongings of the ex-royals to the Nirmal niwas.
Meanwhile, refuting the claims that the then king left the palace yesterday, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula confirmed that Gyanendra Shah will evacuate the palace only after necessary consultations with the government.
Home minister Sitaula said that the government is ready to make necessary security arrangements to the former king though he stays in Nirmal Niwas.
The Minister, however, clarified that the number of security personnel will be slashed.