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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Nepal authorities lift restrictions on organising protests in Kathmandu
Nepal authorities have lifted the restrictions imposed on organising protests in most parts of the national capital, according to an official notice. The order issued on May 31 prohibiting sit-ins, hunger strikes, protests, public gatherings and demonstrations within the Ring Road areas of Kathmandu has been withdrawn effective from June 19, said the notice issued by the Kathmandu District Administrative Office on Thursday. The pro-monarchy protesters, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal, were organising protest programmes before the restrictions were imposed. The protests were disrupting business activities and transportation services, the local administration had said. Pro-monarchist groups, including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and supporters of former king Gyanendra Shah, had earlier said they would continue the protest until the monarchy was restored. However, they have withdrawn protest programmes due to the onset of the monsoon in Nepal.
NDTV
04-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Will Nepal Really See A Return Of The Monarchy?
A huge crowd headed towards Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's Baluwatar residence from downtown in Kathmandu, chanting slogans in favour of the restoration of the Hindu monarchy, which was abolished in 2008. The crowd, led by former Home Minister Kamal Thapa, tried to break the police cordon. This was on June 1. The police responded to protesters with batons. As they continued to push, the security forces fired tear gas shells to prevent the crowd from entering the premier's residence. Subsequently, as the crowd dispersed, police arrested Thapa. Most strikingly, he was dragged to a police van with his hands and legs tied, before being taken into custody. Hours later, Thapa and the other arrestees were released. A Role Reversal Clashes of this kind have become the norm in Nepal of late. Thapa, a leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal, was the Home Minister during the 2006 popular uprising that flared across the country. Those protests ended the centuries-old constitutional monarchy. Back then, dismayed by the direct rule of the then King Gyanendra Shah, tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets for nearly a month demanding the abolishment of the centuries-old Hindu monarchy. The government, led by the King's men, had ordered the police to open fire at the protesters. More than two dozen demonstrators were killed, scores of them injured, and thousands of others were detained. Yet, protests continued. The nationwide uprising forced the King to abandon the Royal Palace, ending a 239-year-old tradition. And thus, Nepal was declared a Republic. India, China, the US and other influential countries endorsed the political shift. The King's residence, known as Narayanhiti Royal Palace, was subsequently converted into a museum. Now, nearly two decades later, monarchists like Thapa have taken to the streets, followed by their supporters. The then rulers, who suppressed the people's movement under the guidance of King Gyanendra, are now the protesters. The roles have reversed in less than two decades. A Slew Of Actors In The Fray This time, backed by the frustrated populace, pro-royal forces are hitting the streets, vowing to bring back the King to the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. To amplify their demands, smaller parties, academicians and well-wishers have joined the movement for the restoration of a constitutional monarchy. The royal family itself has been backing the protesters, hosting lunch for leaders and defending their campaign in press statements. Public support for the once-dethroned monarchy has also increased due to various reasons. The country is witnessing an economic crisis that's only worsening, and, consequently, the number of people leaving the country in search of jobs has almost doubled compared to a few decades ago. The alleged involvement of several ruling leaders in high-profile cases, including smuggling, human trafficking, fake refugee and visa scams, has added to the public discontent. So far, not a single case has been investigated fairly, with only junior-ranking officials being held accountable. Thus, it wasn't surprising how recently, when King Gyanendra returned home from Pokhara, visiting several Hindu shrines during his weeks-long stay at his residence in Kathmandu, thousands thronged the Kathmandu airport to escort him to his Palace, Nirmal Niwas. Hoping to cash in on this popular frustration, Gyanendra has also been meeting fragmented pro-royal parties. Two such parties - one led by Thapa and another by Rajendra Lingden - have mobilised their cadres. Consequently, clashes have intensified too, as major republican parties mobilise their own supporters. On Monday evening, the police had to prevent a brawl between the Young Communist League (YCL), the youth wing of the Maoists, and supporters of the royal family. This happened when former princess Himani Shah and her son Hridayendra were attending a mourning procession for the loss of their family members in the 2001 Royal Palace massacre. The Constitutional Hiccup Nepal's constitution has little space for accommodating voices raised by monarchist forces. Legal experts see no such possibility under the existing Constitution. To amend the document and restore the Hindu monarchy, supporters will need to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament in the election scheduled for 2027. Also, it's unlikely that the monarchists, who command very few seats in Parliament, would secure a majority owing to the complex electoral system. Given this situation, the pro-royalists are now striving to stitch an arrangement with political parties wherein they could reinstate at least a ceremonial monarchy. However, most major parties have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against monarchist forces. Nonetheless, the monarchists, aiming to build international support, have also begun to lobby openly with neighbouring countries, including India. The Indian establishment, however, which had brokered a deal in 2006 bringing Maoist rebels and parliamentary parties together to abolish the monarchy, has shown little favour to the protesters. So is the case with another neighbour, China. In any case, compared to monarchist forces, most major political parties in Nepal have better ties with India and China. There's another problem: the royal family itself is unsure about whom to name as the new King. Gyanendra has already served twice, and his son, Prasa, is unpopular among the public. Only Gyanendra's grandson, Hrydendra, who's currently pursuing higher education in the US, is seen as the future King among some. Given these complexities, the reinstatement of the monarchy seems impossible constitutionally, at least for now. Unable to secure the required majority, pro-monarchists should force the government to come to the table for negotiation. For that to happen, mainstream parties, which anyway have the upper hand as of now, will have to agree to have a dialogue too. In any case, it's unlikely that they will bow to the pro-royalists' demands.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nepal's former home minister, others arrested for trying to enter restricted area during pro-monarchy protest
Nepal's former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and about half a dozen others were arrested after they tried to enter a restricted area during a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu on Sunday (June 1, 2025), police said. To reinstate monarchy and establish Nepal as a Hindu state, the pro-monarchy groups, including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and RPP Nepal, protested at Narayan Chaur in Kathmandu on the fourth day of the agitation. Rajendra Lingden, the RPP president and a staunch supporter of the monarchy, was leading the protest when agitators tried to break the security cordon and move towards Baluwatar, the Prime Minister's official residence, and clashed with the police, Kathmandu Valley Police spokesperson Apil Bohora said. Mr Bohara said Mr Thapa and others were arrested for violating the restricted zone around the Narayanhiti Palace Museum area. About 1,200 pro-monarchy supporters, chanting slogans against the republican system and in favour of monarchy, participated in the protest, Mr Bohara said. They carried photographs of former king Gyanendra Shah and chanted slogans against the Prime Minister K.P. Oli-led government. The protesters said they would continue the protest until the monarchy was restored.
News18
01-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Nepal's Former Home Minister Among Several Arrested During Pro-Monarchy Protest
Last Updated: Nepal's former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and several others were arrested for trying to enter a restricted area during pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu. Nepal's former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and several others were arrested for trying to enter a restricted area during pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu on Sunday, according to police. Pro-monarchy groups were protesting at the Narayan Chaur on the fourth day of the agitation. The agitation was aimed at reinstating monarchy in Nepal and establishing it as a Hindu state. Nepal's authorities on Friday had banned protests and public gatherings around the Narayanhiti Palace area in the heart of Kathmandu amid demonstrations. Rajendra Lingden, president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and a strong pro-monarchy advocate, was leading the protest when demonstrators attempted to breach the security barricade and march toward Baluwatar, the official residence of the prime minister, leading to clashes with police, according to Kathmandu Valley Police spokesperson Apil Bohora. कमल थापालाइ घिसार्दै प्रहरीले नियन्त्रणमा लिएकाे छ ।भिडियाेः सामाजिक सञ्जाल — Prakash Timalsina (@prakashujyalo) June 1, 2025 Thapa, the chairman of RPP-Nepal and former Nepalese home minister, was detained in the Narayan Chaur area for violating the restricted zone order declared around the Narayanhiti Palace Museum area, The Kathmandu Post reported citing police. The pro-monarchist groups, including the RPP and RPP-Nepal, had launched Kathmandu-centred protest programmes from May 29 with the objectives of reinstatement of the monarchy and establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal. The protests had been peaceful until today. About 1,200 pro-monarchy supporters, chanting slogans against the republican system and in favour of monarchy, participated in the protest, Bohara said. They carried photographs of former king Gyanendra Shah and chanted slogans against the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government. (with agency inputs) First Published:
AsiaOne
30-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Nepal's royalists demand restoration of monarchy dumped 17 years ago, Asia News
KATHMANDU — Thousands of supporters of Nepal's former king rallied in the capital Kathmandu on Thursday (May 29), calling for the restoration of the constitutional monarchy that was abolished 17 years ago, amid rising unhappiness with successive elected governments. Flag-waving protesters marched into the city centre from different directions shouting: "Our king is dearer than lives ... king come back and save the country," as riot police stood guard but did not intervene. At a similar rally in March, two people were killed and several injured. The 239-year-old monarchy was voted out in 2008 following weeks of bloody street protests. The last king of the Himalayan nation, 77-year-old Gyanendra, has lived with his family in a private house in Kathmandu as a commoner since being toppled. He has not commented on Thursday's demonstration but expressed sorrow at the violence that killed two people in March. Demonstrators are also calling for the country of 30 million people, wedged between China and India, to become a Hindu state again, a status it lost with the monarchy. "Governments formed in the last 17 years have failed to deliver on their promises of development, creation of jobs and improvement of the living conditions of people," said 35-year-old street vendor Rajendra Tamang. "Thousands of young people are forced to leave the country in search of work as they see no hope here," he said. Millions of young Nepalis are working in the Middle East, South Korea and Malaysia, mainly at construction sites, and the money they send home is a key source of income for Nepal. Supporters of the government staged a separate but smaller rally nearby in support of the republican system that replaced the monarchy. The three major political parties that jointly control nearly 200 of the 275 seats in parliament say the monarchy was consigned to history and cannot be restored. All three jointly campaigned against the monarchy and voted it out in 2008 and say their faith in the republican system was unshakeable. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which is campaigning for the monarchy, holds only 13 seats in parliament. A two-thirds majority or 184 lawmakers is needed to change the constitution, which was adopted in 2015, turning Nepal into a federal democratic republic. The royalists say their protests will continue until the monarchy is restored. [[nid:691979]]
