Kathmandu, March 10 -- Since the abolition of monarchy in Nepal in 2008, former king Gyanendra Shah has been ritually releasing statements on the eve of some special occasions such as the Democracy Day.

On February 18, he released a video addressing Nepalis on his reflections on the country's trajectory over the past seven decades, emphasising the difficulties currently faced by the people. This Democracy Day message was his first direct appeal since his ouster to the people for "extending their support if they wanted to secure the nation's future".

Soon after, supporters of the monarchy stepped up their activities, which culminated in Sunday's show of force seeking to reinstate the country's oldest institution.

Shah, who was staying i...