By IANS
Kathmandu : The upcoming "diamond" birthday celebration of Nepal's embattled King Gyanendra was mired in fresh controversy Thursday with youth organisations of the ruling parties, spearheaded by the Maoists, warning that they would disrupt the festivities if the government did not stop them.
"The so-called birthday celebration will be the gathering of the criminals who tried to crush Nepal's pro-democracy movement," said Ratna Poudel, senior leader of the Maoist student wing. "If the government doesn't stop the programme, our alliance of student and youth organisations will try to combat it."
Eight student organisations affiliated to the eight-party ruling alliance and the eight youth organisations of the parties Thursday collectively petitioned the government to stop the programme organised by the royal family and followers of King Gyanendra to mark his 61st birthday.
The three-day festivities start with a cocktail dinner in the palace Friday night hosted by Queen Komal.
Though the guest list includes nearly 2,000 people, including Nepal's VVIPs and VIPs, European Union envoys Wednesday said they would not attend.
The US ambassador to Nepal has also sent his regrets and the Indian ambassador is reported to have done the same.
The five Maoist ministers in the cabinet were the first to say they would not accept the invitation.
On Saturday, the king's birthday, royalists, including former ministers and members of the dissolved privy council, are organising a rally that will march to the palace to offer best wishes to the king.
However, the 16 dissident organisations are said to be planning to stop the rally, which has raised fears of violence in the capital Saturday.
On Sunday, crown prince Paras and crown princess Himani are holding a tea party in the palace.
"We are asking the government not to make any budgetary provision for the palace," said Indra Lal Sapkota, one of the protesting leaders. "The money should instead be spent on education, health and employment projects."
The new budget is scheduled to be presented in parliament on July 13.
The new protest comes a day after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, one of the staunchest supporters of monarchy, Wednesday told parliament ahead of tabling the government's policies and programmes for the new fiscal year, that the royal family and royalists should leave Nepal ahead of the November election.
The premier has been repeatedly making public statements, urging the king and the crown prince to abdicate, stoking the controversy.
The upcoming programmes of the government include nationalising the properties of slain king Birendra and queen Aishwarya, which were inherited by king Gyanendra after he ascended the throne in 2001 following the palace massacre.
King Gyanendra lost his popularity after he started interfering with the functioning of the government soon after his ascension and in 2005, seized power with the backing of the army.
The 15-month royal rule triggered a public revolt and forced the king to step down.
Angered by the royal move, the new government pledged to hold an election that would put monarchy to vote, for the first time in the 238-year history of the crown.