Latest news with #GyanendraShah
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Nepal bans demonstrations in Kathmandu for 2 months amid pro-monarchy protests
The Nepali government on Sunday announced restrictions on protests in most parts of Kathmandu, given the continued protests by pro-monarchy hunger strikes, protests, public gatherings and demonstrations are prohibited within the Kathmandu ring road area except three places -- Koteshwor, Balkhu and Sifal ground, a notice from Kathmandu District Administrative Office restriction will be effective from June 2 for the next two months, the notice The restriction has been imposed to avoid possible disruption of business activities and transportation services by protesters, the notice the notice will not affect other programmes organised in coordination with the district administrative the police have released seven pro-monarchy supporters, including former home minister Kamal Thapa, who were detained for trying to enter a restricted area in Kathmandu on Sunday pro-monarchy supporters demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hindu state have been organising indefinite protest programmes since carried photographs of former king Gyanendra Shah and chanted slogans against the Prime Minister KP Oli-led protesters said they would continue the protest until the monarchy was Watch
The Print
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Nepal govt restricts protests in Kathmandu due to continued pro-monarchy demonstrations
The restriction will be effective from June 2 for the next two months, the notice said. Sit-ins, hunger strikes, protests, public gatherings and demonstrations are prohibited within the Kathmandu ring road area except three places — Koteshwor, Balkhu and Sifal ground, a notice from Kathmandu District Administrative Office said. Kathmandu, Jun 1 (PTI) The Nepali government on Sunday announced restrictions on protests in most parts of Kathmandu, given the continued protests by pro-monarchy supporters. The restriction has been imposed to avoid possible disruption of business activities and transportation services by protesters, the notice said. However, the notice will not affect other programmes organised in coordination with the district administrative office. Meanwhile, the police have released seven pro-monarchy supporters, including former home minister Kamal Thapa, who were detained for trying to enter a restricted area in Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon. The pro-monarchy supporters demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hindu state have been organising indefinite protest programmes since Thursday. 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. PTI SBP PY PY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
NDTV
27-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India To Dust Off 1971 War Air Base To Counter Bangladesh's China Turn
If Beijing does fund the renovation of Lalmonirhat then expect the Chinese to have military assets - fighter jets, radars, surveillance equipment, etc. - stationed there as part of the deal. Bangladesh's reported plans to revive a World War II-era air base - Lalmonirhat in Rangpur division - with help from the Chinese has rung alarm bells in the upper echelons of the Indian administration. The alarm bells are ringing because re-activating Lalmonirhat allows Beijing a military foothold literally on Delhi's doorstep; the base is less than 20km from the India-Bangladesh border. They are also ringing because Lalmonirhat is less than 20km from the Siliguri Corridor - the 22km-wide stretch of land connecting the seven northeastern states to the rest of the country. The Corridor, referred to as the 'chicken's neck', is bordered by Nepal to the west and Bhutan to the north. Relations with those two nations are stable; indeed, there are signs the Nepalese are looking to Gyanendra Shah to reclaim the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy abolished in 2018. But there are red flags from the southern border. If Beijing does fund the renovation of Lalmonirhat then expect the Chinese to have military assets - fighter jets, radars, surveillance equipment, etc. - stationed there as part of the deal. These concerns have prompted India to fast-track the refurbishment of a three-decade-old civil airport in northern Tripura's Kailashahar region. It will likely remain for civil use but, as with all other major airports in the northeast, on-ground facilities will be enhanced to allow Air Force fighter jets and planes to take-off, land, and refuel in times of war or in case of emergencies. However, bringing the Kailashahar airport back to life won't just be about responding to Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat move. It will also be a 'friendly' reminder at a time when ties are strained following the fall of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. Sheikh Hasina was seen as a valuable ally, a reliable counter to the Chinese sniffing around northeast India. But there had been tension building within for years and all of that erupted in student-led protests over her government announced job and college quotas for war veterans. She was deposed and an interim government set up under Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed Yunus, who has so far failed to announce an election and who has proven to be less friendly to New Delhi, and has even reached out to China and Pakistan, than was anticipated. Under these circumstances, the Chinese helping the Bangladeshis restore an air force base within minutes of the Indian border, within minutes of the critical 'chicken's neck' is troubling. A History Lesson Tripura's Kailashahar airport was shut down in the 1990s but before the lights were turned off, the windows shuttered, and doors locked, it played a key role in the 1971 war against Pakistan. Fifty-four years ago the first missions of Kilo Flight - the codename for a Bangladeshi resistance combat unit, operating under the control of the Indian Air Force - took off from this airport. Kilo Flight was a hit-and-run strike group consisting of a Canadian-made DHC-3 Otter plane and the French-made Alouette II helicopter armed with rocket pods and machine guns. A Bangladeh Air Force Alouette III Helicopter Photo Credit: By Bangladesh Air Force, CC BY-SA 4.0 There was also a United States-origin DC-3 Dakota for logistical support. And the Kilo Flight team later led the formation of the Bangladesh Air Force. Why Is Kailashahar Important Otherwise Restoring this airport is also a big step towards improving air connectivity in a state that has, realistically, only one major airport - the one in capital Agartala. On May 26, 2025, a high-level delegation from the Airports Authority of India visited the long-abandoned airport and its surrounding areas to assess its current condition. The team later told reporters "further planning will done in consultation with the state government". Sign up to read this article FREE! Exclusive Stories: Dive into content reserved just for members. Fewer Ads: A cleaner, more enjoyable reading experience. Enhanced Interface: Tailored just for you. Join Now – It's Free!
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Restoration of Nepal's monarchy won't benefit India, says visiting ex-Nepal PM
NEW DELHI: The restoration of Nepal's monarchy will only lead to political instability and will not be in the interest of both Kathmandu and New Delhi, former Nepalese prime minister Baburam Bhattarai said on Monday. Bhattarai, who played a key role in Nepal's transformation from a monarchy to a republic in 2008 as a leader of the Maoist movement, pointed out that his country's monarchy was always autocratic and never constitutional. He argued that pro-monarchy protests being witnessed in Nepal were triggered more by the current government's failure to deliver on people's expectations. 'How will the restoration of an autocratic monarchy in Nepal benefit India? It will only lead to instability. There is no [widespread] public support for restoring the monarchy,' Bhattarai said during an interaction at the Press Club of India. He pointed out that millions of people mobilised to overthrow the monarchy in the 1990s, whereas only about 20,000 people had participated in recent protests aimed at restoring former king Gyanendra Shah. 'What is dead cannot be resurrected. We will move forward,' said Bhattarai, who served as prime minister during 2011-2013 and currently heads the Nepal Socialist Party. He described the political crisis precipitated by the pro-monarchy protests as an opportunity to 'take society forward'. Overthrowing the monarchy led to a 'democratic revolution' in Nepal, which will remain a secular, democratic republic. 'Going back from democracy is not the solution. Deficiencies in the Constitution can be addressed,' he said. Parts of Nepal, including the capital of Kathmandu, were rocked by pro-monarchy protests in March that left two people dead and dozens injured. Supporters of deposed king Gyanendra Shah have demanded the restoration of the monarchy and Nepal's status as a Hindu state. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern about a possible Indian role in these protests. Bhattarai declined to comment on reports that the Indian side was linked to the protests and only said the return of Nepal's monarchy would be 'non-productive'. He also dismissed speculation that Nepal is moving closer to China by pointing out that Kathmandu is heavily dependent on New Delhi for trade and transit. 'According to the latest figures, 67% of our trade is with India and only 14% is with China. People suspect there is a China card, but we have never used China as a card against India,' he said. 'No Nepalese leader will be so foolish as to use this as a card.' Bhattarai, who met defence minister Rajnath Singh and leaders of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in New Delhi, acknowledged a 'sense of concern' in India about developments in Nepal, especially the 'constant political instability'. He described this instability as a 'product of the unfinished revolution' and said his party has proposed a 'directly elected presidential system and fully proportional but directly elected Parliament' to ensure stability with checks and balances. At the same time, he said it will be very difficult for Nepal to prosper without good relations with India, especially on economic issues. He suggested the prime ministers of the two countries should meet and resolve issues 'left behind by history', including a boundary dispute.
Russia Today
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Long live the king: Why this nation debates the return of monarchy
Violent protests took place in Nepal last week as pro-monarchy groups demanded the return of former King Gyanendra Shah to power, 16 years after the monarchy was abolished in the mountainous nation. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, saw twin protests on March 28. The rally led by the United People's Movement Committee, a coalition supporting monarchy, devolved into clashes with security forces and resulted in the deaths of at least two people, including a journalist. Another rally, organized by several republican political parties that formed the Socialist Alliance to 'defeat regressive and reactionary forces,' processed peacefully. Two different locations were allocated for rallies. However, the pro-monarchy rally got out of control. Protesters burned private homes, vehicles, and media houses, and attacked journalists as well as the offices of political parties. Pro-monarchy groups also looted supermarkets, homes, and department stores. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 80 people were injured during the protest, including 15 police officers. Pro-monarchy protestors clash with Nepal Police in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025, in an apparent show of power, which claims two lives and leaves dozens injured. © Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Nepal Police arrested around 111 people, including Rabindra Mishra, the former editor-in-chief of the BBC Nepali Service, who entered Nepalese politics in 2017 and formed the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Mishra and RPP General Secretary Dhawal Shamsher Rana, who was also arrested during the protest, have been charged with treason by the Kathmandu District Court. Both Mishra and Rana were accused of inciting the protesters. The chief coordinator of the pro-royalist movement, Nawaraj Subedi, an 87-year-old politician who was a leader in the country's Panchayat system, which was established by King Mahendra in 1960 and remained in force until the 1990s, was placed under house arrest . Security agencies also initiated a search of Durga Prasai, labeled by local media as the chief commander of the ongoing royalist movement. Prasai, a controversial businessman who has been implicated in a bank loan fraud, allegedly provoked the crowd and triggering widespread stone-pelting, according to witnesses. Prasai later released a video apologizing for the incident, claiming he was not hiding. Pro-monarchy protestors clash with Nepal Police in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025, in an apparent show of power, which claims two lives and leaves dozens injured. © Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto via Getty Images The committee behind the royalist movement was formed earlier in March, after thousands of people joined a demonstration in the capital in support of restoring the monarchy with the former king, Gyanendra Shah, as its head. On February 18, the eve of Nepal's Democracy Day, Shah issued a statement from the city of Pokhara where he was staying, expressing concern that the country's long-term peace, stability, and sovereignty have started to erode in recent years. 'Even though the reins of the state power have been in the hands of many repeatedly, or even though it has changed, our existing state system does not seem to be able to make any profound contribution to the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the nation,' he was quoted by local media as saying. Upon his arrival in Kathmandu, pro-monarchy supporters gathered outside of Tribhuvan International Airport in and welcomed the former royal, giving pro-monarchy forces a signal for a coordinated political action. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Vice Chairperson Rabindra Mishra (center) and other arrested are brought to the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 30, 2025. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images The government reacts Following the violence, the government led by K.P. Sharma Oli, who was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister in May last year, has signaled its intent to take action against pro-monarchy groups. The government has reduced the security detail assigned to Gyanendra Shah and reshuffled the security team. Before the Kathmandu incident, 26 police officers were assigned to his security, but after the violence, the government reduced the number to 16. According to government sources, further action may be taken against Shah. 'The government is taking former King Gyanendra's activities seriously and might take further action within the next few days,' a senior government official told RT. The 'Arrest Gyanendra' campaign has gained momentum in social media following the protests. Despite differences on various issues, major political parties of the country share the same stance regarding Gyanendra's activities. A pro-monarchist carries a poster of the late King Mahendra Shah during a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025. © Rojan Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ram Prasad Shrestha, a former member of the Judicial Council called for investigating former king's involvement in the movement and held accountable for the violence that occurred, if found guilty. 'The current crisis has emerged because of the immunity he was granted,' he said. Journalist Harihar Birahi, who served as a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the suppression of the second people's movement in 2006, also believes that these circumstances provide sufficient grounds to investigate Gyanendra's role in the movement. Read more Power play: How a country with major energy potential struggles to keep the lights on Major political parties have demanded legal action against Shah. The Nepali Congress party, the main coalition partner in the government, has accused him of being responsible for the March 28 violence in Kathmandu. 'The kind of activities that took place in the name of royalism – former King Gyanendra Shah is fully responsible for them. He should take responsibility for the actions carried out under his direct influence,' Ram Saran Mahat, a leader of the Nepali Congress, said. Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' – the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and former prime minister – stated that the former king was directly involved in the events that unfolded over the past six months. He added that political parties and the government could not take a lenient stance on him. 'Gyanendra Shah cannot be allowed to go unpunished. The Nepali people are not ready for that. The government must take this seriously. It is now very clear that Gyanendra Shah is behind everything that has been happening,' Prachanda said , according to the Kathmandu Post. Political analyst Jhalak Subedi, in a conversation with RT, suggested that the main plan was orchestrated under the leadership of the former king, who 'has been preparing for the restoration of the monarchy for a couple of years.' Subedi also claimed that Gyanendra has support by 'India's Hindus' and that Indian media has been 'consistently giving priority' to the movement for the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy in Nepal. Indeed, a political controversy arose in Nepal in March, after Gyanendra supporters flashed posters with the image of India's Uttar Pradesh state chief minister Yogi Adityanath during their rallies in Kathmandu. Adityanath is known for viewing the neighboring country as a 'Hindu state.' According to Indian media, ties between Nepal's royal Shah dynasty and the Goraksh Peeth, a monastery of the Nath tradition, which is currently lead by monk-turned-chief minister Adityanath, date back centuries. On April 1, days after the deadly unrest Kathmandu, Nepal's ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, met with Adityanath in India's Lucknow to discuss bilateral relations. Pro-monarchists hold photos of former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah and Yogi Aditya Nath, CM of India's Uttar Pradesh, as they gather outside Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, to welcome him. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Done with the royals Gyanendra Shah assumed the crown in 2001 after his brother, then-King Birendra, was killed in a massacre at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. The attack, allegedly carried out by Crown Prince Dipendra, resulted in the assassination of much of the royal family before Dipendra took his own life. In February 2005, Gyanendra seized power from the civilian government – a move that made him deeply unpopular. He dissolved the government, banned news reporting, and authorized the army to arrest senior political leaders, journalists, trade unionists, human rights activists, and civil society members. All telephone and internet connections were cut. Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal during his Coronation ceremony in Nepal on June 6, 2001. © Bhaskar Paul/The The India Today Group via Getty Images In response, the parliamentary political parties and the Maoist rebels – then engaged in armed conflict – joined forces and launched a united movement against the monarchy. Following a 19-day people's uprising, Gyanendra relinquished power to political parties in 2006. Two years later, the Constituent Assembly formally abolished the monarchy, forcing Gyanendra to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace. The government subsequently allocated Nagarjuna Palace, located seven kilometers west of the capital, as his residence. Since then, he has traveled to various districts, organizing public engagement programs. In recent months, however, he has become increasingly active in campaigning for the restoration of the monarchy. READ MORE: 'It stinks': The world's tallest mountain is overflowing with feces and waste. Nepal is sounding the alarm Why people want the king back? Only around 5% of Nepal's parliamentarians advocate for monarchism. They belong to the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which campaigns for reinstating Nepal as a Hindu kingdom. Political analysts suggest that public frustration with the government's poor service delivery, corruption, and unemployment has created dissatisfaction. Yubaraj Ghimire, a senior Nepali journalist, suggested that in recent times, political parties had failed to deliver and have become extremely corrupt. Nepal's former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (Center) greets his followers and supporters as his vehicle is surrounded by a large mass of pro-monarchists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 9, 2025. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Tanka Karki, a political analyst and former Nepali ambassador to China, believes, however, that former king wrongly believed he had widespread public support. 'The only alternative to democracy is democracy itself; the restoration of the monarchy is not possible,' Karki told RT. 'Shah made a daring but unsuccessful attempt.' He suggested that the events of the past week provided lessons to all political parties in the country. Subedi believes that former King Gyanendra and his movement weakened after the March 28 Kathmandu incident. 'The restoration of the monarchy is not possible. I see it facing suppression once again,' he said.
