AP News, September 6th, 2007
Nepal's unpopular crown prince suffered a major heart attack Thursday and was hospitalized in the capital, doctors said.
Crown Prince Paras, 35, was in stable condition at Norvic hospital in Katmandu after being stricken at his home, Dr. Bharat Rawal said.
"He had his right artery blocked and we were able to treat that on time," Rawal told The Associated Press. "He is out of danger and fully conscious."
King Gyanendra, Queen Komal and other royal family members reached the hospital a few minutes after Paras arrived.
Security was tight in and around the hospital.
Paras remains unpopular, dogged by allegations of involvement in two vehicular homicides and frequent drunken brawls in nightclubs and discos. He has never faced criminal investigations or charges.
One of the two killed was a popular singer. There were several street demonstrations against Paras and a petition drive in which thousands of people demanded action against him, without success.
Gyanendra became king in June 2001 after his elder brother, King Birendra, was killed along with his family. Many people even believe Paras was somehow involved in the killings since he and his immediate family survived while 10 others were killed. An official investigation blamed Birendra's son, Dipendra, but many questions remained unanswered.
Gyanendra, Paras' father, also became unpopular after he seized absolute power in 2005, and was forced to give up authoritarian rule a year later by weeks of pro-democracy protests. He later was stripped of his powers, including his command of the army. A special assembly to be elected later this year is to decide whether Nepal will continue to have a king.
People who gathered at the hospital expressed little sympathy.
"It will not be a big loss if anything happens to Paras. The people will not accept him as the next king," said Shyam Bahadur, a student in the crowd.
"He is known to abuse alcohol, drugs and tobacco. It should not be a surprise that he had a heart attack at this age. It is because of people like Paras that the royal family, once revered, has become so unpopular and hated by the people," said Raju Chetri, a businessman.
Gyanendra and Paras continue to live in palaces but have no official power or authority. Gyanendra is not head of state and has not taken part recently in public functions. Paras has three children.
