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Nepal House defers move

Ameet Dhakal

Discussions on curtailing King's powers inconclusive

KATHMANDU: A crucial meeting of the House of Representatives that was to proclaim itself as the sovereign and supreme body of the country and cut the King's power and privileges has been deferred at least till May 18, the next meeting of the House.

The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) leaders, after their meeting this morning, told reporters that the proclamation was deferred as the leaders felt that some more homework needs to be done.

A senior leader of the SPA, however, told The Hindu that some differences have cropped up within the alliance about stripping the King of his title of the Supreme Commander of the Army, among others.

Differences denied

Minendra Rijal, spokesperson of Nepali Congress (Democratic) denied such differences and said Prime Minsiter Girija Prasad Koirala told the alliance meeting that he would first expand the Cabinet and endorse the proclamation by it before taking it to the House. Prime Minister Koirala is expected to expand his seven-member on Tuesday at the latest. The draft of the proclamation proposes massive cuts in King's power and privileges. It also proposes to rename the Government as "Nepal Government" and the country's army as "Nepal Army." Currently, the Government is called His Majesty's Government and the army as the Royal Nepal Army.

After the proclamation, the House will have the right to enact the laws regarding the heir to the throne. Furthermore, the royal family's income will be taxed. The King's actions will also be open to question in a court of law. The proclamation will also open door for the Maoists to join the national government.

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