The Nepal government has scrapped the provision of national holiday on the birthday of King Gyanendra that falls on July 7, Friday.

King Gyanendra

King Gyanendra (File Photo)
King’s birthday was celebrated as ‘national day’ last year.

Talking to reporters after the meeting of the council of ministers at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar in Kathmandu on Monday, Minister of State for Information and Communications Dilendra Prasad Badu said only the officials working at the Narayanhiti royal palace would get holiday on that day.

The decision comes in a row of decisions taken by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) government so as to curtail royal powers and privileges. The reinstated House of Representatives in May this year had changed the name of His Majesty’s Government as Nepal government and made royal properties taxable.

The parliament has also severed all sort of links with the monarchy in Nepal.

The SPA government was installed after three-week-long ‘jana andolan’ in April this year that was directed against the direct rule of King Gyanendra. The reinstated House has also decided to go for elections to the Constituent Assembly that will decide the fate of the monarchy, among others.

The cabinet also decided to appoint officials to the National Sports Council, Social Welfare Council and add members to the High-level Media Commission and dissolve “Unified Command” of the security forces set up earlier to fight with the Maoist rebels. Minister Badu said over 3,700 policemen would now return to their work stations as per the government’s decision.

Minister Badu said Monday’s cabinet meeting also endorsed government’s policies and programmes to be presented in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will present the programme at the House.

Earlier, His Majesty the King used to read out the programme before the joint house of the parliament.

Premier Koirala and members of the cabinet are expected to take oath of office and secrecy before the House on Tuesday.