Amidst controversy, a statue of King Birendra has been restored in Birendranagar, Surkhet. The independent Surkhet-based Janata Group has restored the statue that was demolished during the Jana Andolan of 2062 BS.
There was a big controversy over whether to keep the statue of King Birendra in Birendra Chowk. Amidst the controversy, the group suddenly placed a half-length statue on the occasion of the 77th birth anniversary of the late King Birendra.
During the reconstruction of the square two years ago, the locals had put pressure on the Birendranagar Municipality to restore the statue, but the municipality was evading saying that the demolished statue could not be restored without political consent.
When King Virendra came to Surkhet, he unveiled his own statue in 2044 BS, naming the main market chowk ‘Birendra Chowk’.
By Muna Chand
