Janadharana , 12 October At a time when the SPA-led government and the Maoists are discussing the future of the monarchy, 47 independent politicians have released a statement in favour of the monarchy demanding that the peace talks be led by the king. The statement begins: ‘This scared earth of Nepal cannot bear to watch the weakening of the monarch who has borne the historic responsibility and given it warm guidance.’ Independent political leaders like Radheshyam Thapa, Dinbahadur Aryal, Dharmaraj Giri, Haribahadur Basnet, Kamansingh Basnet, Golche Sarki, and Dhanendra Bahadur Basnet signed the statement. They state that the king’s 24 April proclamation was a fulfilment of a historic responsibility to safeguard the sovereignty of the state, the unity of the Nepali people, and the betterment of the country, and that it did not stem from personal aspirations. ‘Any step that aims to disrupt the cordial relations between the king and the people, the united force of the people, and the historic establishment of the monarchy will not be beneficial to the country and the people,’ the statement adds.