Former crown prince Paras Shah has said he fired a shot in the air in a fit of anger when a Bangladeshi and an Indian national used insulting language against him,the monarchy and Nepalis in general in a jungle lodge two days ago. Paras,the only son of former King Gyanendra Shah,said the blank fire was shot in a moment of anger,but was not aimed at any individual or the property of the Tiger Tops lodge. Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala had informed Prime Minister Madhav Nepal from Bangkok last night that Paras had opened fire on his daughter and son-in-law and requested he be arrested. Her son-in-law is a Bangaldeshi national,and apparently the person that Shah referred in the statement. The government is investigating the case and there is speculation that Shah as well as the son-in-law of the Deputy Prime Minister ― known as a wheeler dealer in the power circle ― might be interrogated about the incident. Paras issued the statement after the Prime Minister asked Home Minister Bhim Rawal to get the former Crown Prince arrested. The statement issued in Nepali says: "After my programmes in Dhading and Sarlahi were over,I was in the restaurant of the Tiger Tops lodge in Chitwan along with members of my family. There were other people as well and a Bangladeshi and an Indian who were there along with other people in the same restaurant began chatting with me. And they started criticising me and the institution I represented in the past in a provocative manner. Despite all my efforts to end the debate,they continued to remain provocative." "Others present tried to stop them,but instead,they continued to criticise me,my family and also used contemptuous language against the Nepalis. I got out of the restaurant and spent some time alone outside. After about half an hour,and after all the others had left the restaurant,the insult heaped on me and the country became unbearable for me,and in a feat of anger,I fired one shot from the revolver in my possession. But let me inform all Nepali brothers and sisters that the blank fire was not aimed at any individual or physical property of the Tiger tops lodge."
