KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Former King Gyanendra Shah has said that Nepal’s path forward should be based on national consensus rather than narrow, self-serving interests.
In a video message released on the eve of the 75th National Democracy Day on Wednesday, he expressed concern over the current political system and leadership practices. Reflecting on the 2007 BS revolution in which the monarchy and the people jointly secured democracy, he paid tribute to King Tribhuvan and all martyrs who sacrificed for the nation.
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However, he noted that decades of political change have not significantly improved citizens’ lives. Addressing political leaders, the former king said:
"The country is trapped in an unnatural whirl of confusion. Development cannot come from a mindset of 'let me get my share first.' Only a collective sense of duty and cooperation can propel the nation forward."
He warned that the tendency to claim rights without fulfilling responsibilities has pushed the country into one of its most challenging periods in history. He called for reflection on past struggles and movements to assess what real benefits these changes have brought to Nepal and its citizens.
"Every patriotic Nepali feels that the nation’s dignity and existence are under threat," he added, emphasizing that poverty and instability are the true enemies, not fellow citizens. He criticized the culture of seeing other Nepalis as rivals rather than collaborators in nation-building.
