Ministers, security chiefs visit Nagarjuna palace

Ministers and chiefs of security agencies inspected the Nagarjuna palace, which has been given to former King Gyanendra to be used as a 'temporary' residence, Monday evening.

Home minister Krishna Prasad Situala, communication minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and security chiefs were in the inspection team.

Later, talking to reporters, Situala said that the ex-King would move from Narayanhiti palace before the 15-day deadline given to him by the government to vacate the palace expired, on June 12.

On Sunday, a cabinet meeting had decided to allow Gyanendra's mother Ratna and his close relative Sarala Manandhar to stay at Narayanhiti palace 'for the time being'.

Meanwhile, the government has given seven more days to a committee formed to keep record of the assets in Narayanhiti.

After a meeting of the political committee of the Council of Ministers in the afternoon, minister Situala said the deadline was extended as the committee was yet to complete its job.

According to news reports, the committee hasn't been able to make a reliable assessment of the properties with the palace officials not cooperating with it while the ex-King is said to be controversially claiming his ownership over some valuables including the jewel-studded Shripech (crown). nepalnews.com mk June 08 09