Tulsi Giri, known for being a piller of active monarchy, has been drawn into controversy for not paying a bank loan he took years ago. After news of his blacklisting, people have been demanding his resignation, some even satirising the situation by collecting petty cash to help him pay back the loan. Excerpts of an interview:

Did you take a loan for Himalayan Plastic?
They appointed me as a shareholder of the company and when requested, I accepted to be president. But I had no hand in taking loans, spending it or such transactions.

But to agree to be a shareholder and president, then to deny responsibility in paying loans?
I had resigned from being a prime minister back then. Politics was not the way I wanted it to be so I didn't want to be involved in it anymore. A person I knew came to me and requested me to be a sleeping partner in his company. I agreed. Whether that was wrong or right is a different matter. I have decided that until the bank sends me a formal notice, I don't have to pay anyone anything on the basis of news published in the papers.

If the bank does issue a notice, how will you pay back? Apparently, you don't own any property in Nepal.
First let the bank complete its procedures, if it is proved that I have to pay back, I will pay back somehow. I sold my house and property two decades ago and left the country. I never thought that I would be involved in politics again. Circumstances changed, I have responsibilities but the political scenario is still not the way I want it to be.

What is the way you want it to be?
When it is implemented, you will know.

That means you are dissatisfied even with present politics?
Yes, this is neither a duck nor a chicken. I am not inclined towards moving this way. I believe that we must move straight ahead.

You want to lead the country on a more reactionary path?
I don't know what that is. I believe that the nation must be led towards the path that both the king and the nation want.

Not the path asserted by political parties?
Haven't you seen where the parties have taken the country? You wantto go that way?

You get a lot of flak for your outspokenness.
I have thick skin like a rhino, criticism doesn't make any difference to me.