Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in a strong attack against pro-monarchist forces in the country, said that it would be better to have monkeys of Pashupatinath temple take over the leadership, instead of appointing monarchists as prime ministers and presidents.
Speaking at a UML awareness rally in Jhapa, Oli strongly criticised the recent pro-monarchy protests in the country, referencing the Tinkune incident where protesters engaged in vandalism, arson, and looting.
Questioning their intentions, he said: “They set fires, vandalised, pelted stones, broke houses, set industries on fire, looted other people's shops, and claimed they were bringing revolution and making big changes. Yet, they ran away while stealing bottles of liquor.”
“They fled after stealing apples and setting fire to pharmaceutical factories. Is this how they will build the country?” he added, My Republica reported.
Mocking the pro-monarchy supporters, Oli claimed that in wanting to make the King the country’s leader, they wanted themselves appointed as ministers. “They want to bring back the king, and after doing so, they aim to become the prime minister and ministers,” he said.
“Instead of them, it would be better to make the monkeys of Pashupatinath ministers.”
Recently, Nepal has seen a massive increase in pro-monarchy protests, owing to frustrations among the people, due to the corruption levels, misgovernance, political instability, as well as the desire by a section of the populace to have the country be declared a Hindu Rashtra due to recent demographic changes, caused by the advent of Islamic preachers and Christian missionaries.