Following a directive from Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Maoist in-charge of "Tamsaling state", Agni Sapkota had asked district-level leaders not to prevent her from attending the function, but they argued that the monarchy is playing politics to revive monarchy in the name of financing development projects. [break]
She was to hand over equipment related to drinking water supply at the district which was possible with her assistance.
Due to threat from the Maoists, the local administration too is not willing to take the former crown princess, who arrived in Charikot on Monday evening to distribute drinking water pipes, to the function. The security personnel deployed for her safety had informed the administration at 10 p.m. Monday that the function had been canceled.
But Himani´s entourage again decided to attend the function despite Maoist threats till 11 p.m.
It has been speculated that talks took place between the local Maoist leaders with the central leadership after Himani´s team decided to attend the function. But the local leadership defied the directives of the center.
"Till the previous night, it was said that she had canceled her program. We had told her to visit the district, but not to attend the function," said a district leader on condition of anonymity. "We also had pressure from central leadership no to disrupt her function. So there must have been some conspiracy," he said.
According to sources, Himani´s security team had decided to request her not to attend the function. Her bodyguard Puja Karki had telephoned Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Following the talks, Dahal had directed Maoist Tamsaling in-charge Sapkota not to disrupt the function. "Then, Sapkota had asked the district leaders not disrupt the function," a district leader close to Dahal said.
The party had decided not to disrupt the program after receiving directives from the center.
But the local students and members of Maoist Young Communist League (YCL) pressurized the district leadership not to let her attend the function saying they didn´t accept the notion of "cultural king".
Following this, All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) and YCL leaders had held a meeting with the leadership Monday morning.
Following the meeting, Maoists had requested the visiting team time and again to cancel the function. Later they, followed Himani´s motorcade, obstructing her vehicle.
They placed a vehicle across the road in a jungle where she had to wait for 20 minutes due to the obstruction. Local Maoist leaders said the directive from the center hurt their sentiments.
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