www.nepalitimes.com #144 9 - 15 May 2003 16 pages Rs 25 The Beetles King Gyanendra The 3rd Great Himalayan Volkswagen strikes back at Beetle Rally gets underway Saturday, 10 May and this year the theme is peace. the political Some 30 Beetles of all ages and from all walks of life will take part in the rally parties with an from BICC to Club Himalaya at Nagarkot. This year, the Bugs will be Royal wrath unprecedented accompanied in solidarity by other non- Beetle VWs, vintage cars and Enfield media blitz. motorcycles resident in Kathmandu. Money raised will go to the Ganesh Foundation for cleft-lip operations, the But King Gyanendra’s dramatic use of Maya Foundation and Shanti Shanti the media card was welcomed by some Sangh. Even if you don’t have a VW, independent analysts. “It was about time. you can sponsor one. The rally will have The tirades against the monarchy by the prizes for fastest Beetle, slowest Beetle, politicians was getting unbearable,” said one best Beetle, prettiest Beetle, etc. prominent businessman who wanted to
[email protected] remain anonymous. “The king has exposed the duplicity of the political parties.” The palace’s media broadsides are expected to harden the stance of the parties, and bring them on a confrontation course with the king. For their part, the parliamentary democracy. He blamed political politicians have been using the threat of parties for disregarding the national interest. street agitation to make King Gyanendra agree Nepali Times interviewed some of the The king also defended his October Fourth to their demand of either a restoration of the SHIVA○○○○ GAUNLE○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ editors who met the king, and although the move to sack Prime Minister Deuba, refuting dissolved house or the formation of an all- fter months of stoically enduring barbs meetings were all one-on-one the king’s the parties’ claim that it was unconstitutional.