"All are not happy with the political situation in the country. All those brothers and sisters whom I met are not satisfied. You all are well aware of this," he told media persons here in the district. [break]
He had arrived here to visit the Kalika Bhagwati Temple and other Hindu shrines as part of a ´religious tour´ of the western part of the country, including Pokhara, Baglung and Parbat districts.
The ex-king, who was deposed in 2008 following an uprising, said that he was ousted through the people´s movement and now he was in a wait-and-watch mood about his next political move.
He clarified that his present visit to various parts of the country was purely for religious purposes but people were talking to him about their grievances and complaining about the political situation.
After visits to the religious sites, he talked to local business people and members of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal. Those calling on the ex-king urged him to come forward to act against increasing corruption, insecurity and instability.
Though he called his visit a ´religious´ tour, he held political discussions with various groups.
"We had to quit as per the wish of the people. Now let´s see how the situation unfolds in the days to come," the former king said during a discussion with a group of women. "We need to improve the situation in the country. I am studying the situation. Let us see."
He queried about the situation at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. "I have heard that Dhorpatan has been encroached. How is the situation there?" he asked a group of women from the Dhorpatan area.
Jabbar Bahadur Lamichhane, president of the Nepal Red Cross Society district chapter, in a choking voice and full of tears, urged the former king to come back into politics to safeguard the country´s nationality.
Surendra Khadka, coordinator of the committee formed to welcome the former king, said he was greeted by enthusiastic locals at Henja in Pokhara and Dimuwa, Paatichaur and Kushma in Parbat. The ex-monarch drove his car himself from Pokhara to Baglung.
He also performed worship at Gupteshwar Cave and Gayatri Temple in Parbat district before returning to Pokhara. Though he had to cancel a visit to Myagdi due to obstruction by Maoists, he is planning to go on to Gorkha, Tanahu and Syangja districts.
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