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Hans India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Nepal: Two months after deadly violence, pro-monarchy group to hold 'peaceful' protests tomorrow
Nepal's pro-monarchist group have decided to resume its demonstrations on Thursday (May 29) just two months after the protests, demanding the restoration of monarchy and a Hindu state, turned violent in the Himalayan nation. Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden has asserted that the street protests and demonstrations will focus on civil disobedience and Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) and will remain "peaceful." Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Lingden said the event will be held at Ratnapark in Kathmandu even if the administration does not permit them. "Our protest will not be violent. It will be completely under our control, and won't be held outside the Ring Road. Even if the administration denies permission, we will hold it at Ratnapark," Lingden said. Lingden alleged that Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is trying to create disruptions during his party's protest programme. Oli, who also chairs the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), during a party function, warned that from 11 am to 2 pm on May 29, Kathmandu should be under the control of his ruling party, the leading Nepalese newspaper, The Kathmandu Post, reported. "The prime minister is trying to provoke unrest on Thursday. Prime Minister Oli made such an inappropriate statement that he either has to correct it or he should resign. We announced a programme at Ratnapark, and the prime minister's party is summoning its cadres nearby to create a clash. Journalists need to report on this matter impartially," Lingden added. Reports suggest that an alliance of pro-royalist and pro-Hindu groups, demanding the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy, will join hands in the unified protest. Prime Minister Oli reportedly instructed UML cadres to organise and take charge of the Kathmandu streets in light of the upcoming protest. Meanwhile, Kamal Thapa, chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N), announced that monarchists, who had been fragmented and inactive, have come together to push their common agenda. "We have moved from a state of complete stagnation to a united front among monarchists. There is now a realisation that this is the most suitable time to push for the abolition of republicanism, federalism, and secularism," said Thapa Thapa accused the major political parties in Nepal of trying to undermine the ideological existence of monarchists. He stated that if the monarchy abolished by the Constituent Assembly of 2008 is revived, then Hridayendra Shah, grandson of former king Gyanendra Shah, could be made the king if there is a national consensus. "If there is a national consensus, let's make Hridayendra Shah the king. If people think Gyanendra Shah is too old, then we must be ready to consider an alternative -- based on consensus. If there is consensus on Hridayendra, then Gyanendra must also accept it. Monarchy is not about an individual -- it is an ideology. We believe that the successor should be a descendant of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Who that should be is not the main issue," Thapa added. Earlier, tension ran high in the Tinkune area of Kathmandu on March 28 during the pro-monarchy protests when two people died, and hundreds were injured in the violent clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters. The violence also caused estimated damages worth Nepalese Rs 460 million.
The Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hridayendra Shah may be king if monarchy is reinstated in Nepal, RPP-Nepal chair Kamal Thapa suggests
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden has said street protests and demonstrations that the pro-monarchy outfit is staging in the capital from May 29 will be peaceful. Their agitation for the goal of reinstating the monarchy will focus on civil disobedience and Satyagraha (non-violent resistance), he added. Their activities will be held in the Ratnapark area of Kathmandu, and not outside of the Ring Road. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday (May 27) to inform them about the planned protest and demonstration for the restoration of monarchy and the Hindu state, Lingden said the event will be held at Ratnapark even if the administration does not permit them. He also objected to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist--CPN-UML) plan to hold a mass meeting nearby the same day, suggesting it was an attempt to create a clash. Justifying the need for 'public pressure', he stressed that change in the political system is not possible through elections alone. Lingden has accused Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli of attempting to incite disruption of his party's protest programme. 'The prime minister is trying to provoke unrest on Jestha 15 [Thursday]. Prime Minister Oli made such an inappropriate statement that he either has to correct it or he should resign,' Lingden said. Speaking at a CPN-UML function, Oli, who also chairs the party, warned that from 11 am to 2 pm on May 29, Kathmandu should be under the control of his ruling party. Lingden accused the government of trying to suppress the freedom guaranteed by the constitution. 'We announced a programme at Ratnapark, and the prime minister's party is summoning its cadres nearby to create a clash. Journalists need to report on this matter impartially,' Lingden pleaded. A loose alliance of pro-royalist and pro-Hindu groups, who are demanding the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy, have come together for a joint protest. Riled by their plan, Oli has instructed UML cadres to gear up to take Kathmandu streets under their control. Kamal Thapa, chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N), announced that the time had come for abolishing republicanism, federalism and secularism in Nepal. He noted that monarchists, who had been fragmented and inactive, have joined forces to push their agenda. 'We have moved from a state of complete stagnation to a united front among monarchists,' Thapa said. Thapa accused the major political parties of actively trying to suppress the ideological existence of monarchists. He also claimed that the Nepali Congress-UML coalition is attempting to introduce laws that would label opposition to the republic as 'treason'. On reviving the monarchy abolished by the Constituent Assembly in 2008, he suggested that if there is national consensus, Hridayendra Shah (pic, left) could be made the king. Hridayendra is the grandson of former king Gyanendra Shah. Since the former king is old and unable to take the responsibility in case the monarchy is restored, his grandson could be the 'best alternative', Thapa suggested. Thapa also indicated his willingness to consider an alternative to Gyanendra if concerns are raised about his age. 'If people think Gyanendra Shah is too old, then we must be ready to consider an alternative—based on consensus,' Thapa added. 'If there is consensus on Hridayendra, then Gyanendra must also accept it. Monarchy is not about an individual—it is an ideology. Our belief is that the successor should be a descendent of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Who that should be is not the main issue.' Thapa alleged that the major political parties were actively working to undermine the ideological basis of monarchists. Keshar Bahadur Bista, coordinator of the Rastriya Shakti Nepal, urged the people to support their movement, which was called to generate public pressure to ensure political stability and good governance in the country. Navaraj Subedi, coordinator of the Movement Mobilisation Committee, said the protest would be peaceful and non-violent. He said around 2,000 volunteers would be mobilised to maintain order. - The Kathmandu Post/ANN
The Print
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Nepal: RPP Leaders briefly detained during protest in restricted area amid internal discord
The demonstration took place in New Baneshwar but drew a much lower turnout than expected by organisers. Kathmandu [Nepal], April 21 (ANI): A group of Nepal's Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leaders, including party chair Rajendra Lingden, were briefly detained by police on Sunday after attempting to protest within a restricted area in Kathmandu, as the party demanded the reinstatement of the monarchy and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state, the Kathmandu Post reported. The protest came at a time of growing disagreement within the RPP over whether to hold demonstrations in restricted zones. The event was marked by disorganisation from the beginning. Several senior party leaders–including chair Lingden, vice-chair Buddhiman Tamang, and chief whip Gyan Bahadur Shahi–were detained before even reaching the designated protest site. Police said the leaders were taken into custody for chanting slogans and distributing flyers within Singha Durbar, the central government secretariat. They were released after a few hours. RPP, currently the fifth-largest party in the House of Representatives, had called the demonstration to push for the release of its senior vice-chairman Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana, both of whom were arrested following a violent protest at Tinkune on March 28. The party's protest on Sunday also called for a judicial investigation into the March unrest. According to Kathmandu Police Range Spokesperson Superintendent Apil Raj Bohara, the leaders were detained after they began distributing flyers and chanting slogans inside the restricted area. Police had already issued a warning through the Ministry of Home Affairs a day earlier, cautioning the party against carrying out protests in restricted zones of the Capital and threatening legal action against anyone violating the law or inciting disorder. On Sunday morning, RPP lawmakers had gathered at Singha Durbar under the pretext of holding a parliamentary party meeting. After the meeting concluded, Lingden and his team began demonstrating inside the premises by holding pamphlets and calling for a probe into the March 28 incident. Police then intervened and detained the group before they could proceed to New Baneshwar. The detained leaders were taken to the Kathmandu Police Range office in Bhadrakali. Speaking to reporters after his release, Lingden said he was not surprised by the arrest, describing the government's actions as authoritarian. 'We are not shocked by this; we are all prepared to be arrested,' Lingden said. The protest appeared to suffer from internal rifts within the RPP, with several leaders reportedly divided over the strategy. Some questioned the decision to protest in Kathmandu's restricted zones while other leaders had planned demonstrations in their own districts scheduled for Tuesday. 'In such a way, how can our movement be effective? It seems some leaders are intent on weakening the movement rather than strengthening it,' said a party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. The arrest of General Secretary Rana, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, has raised further concerns among party members. RPP leaders have reportedly appealed to the government through Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to consider Rana's medical condition and release him on humanitarian grounds. Despite such efforts, Rana has not yet been freed. Party Vice-president Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan stated that attempts were underway to secure the release of both Mishra and Rana, not just through Deuba but also by reaching out to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The RPP has continued its agitation, citing unresolved questions around the March 28 protest at Tinkune. That protest, organised by a different pro-monarchy group led by Panchayat-era politician Nabaraj Subedi, turned violent, resulting in two deaths and over 120 injuries. The RPP had lent its support to the Subedi-led protest, aligning on the common goal of restoring the monarchy. Following the unrest, Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana were taken into custody, along with Durga Prasai, who was described as the 'field commander' of the demonstration. Subedi has since been placed under house arrest by the government. Amid ongoing tensions, a delegation of senior RPP leaders met former king Gyanendra Shah at his residence, Nirmal Niwas, on Friday. Party insiders said the meeting lasted nearly two hours but declined to disclose specific details. Those present included leaders such as Pashupati Shamsher Rana, Prakash Chandra Lohani, Buddhiman Tamang, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Bikram Pandey, and party spokesperson Gyan Bahadur Shahi. 'We are pro-monarch people and we meet the former king on a regular basis,' said Shahi. Tamang added, 'There was nothing specific to share about our meeting with him on Friday.' However, one party member said the discussion covered issues including the March 28 violence and allegations that businessman Durga Prasai had been appointed as the commander of the protest. According to a person familiar with the meeting, the former king expressed deep concern over the casualties and damage caused by the unrest. He reiterated his stance that protests should remain peaceful, saying, 'The police are our brothers; stones should not be thrown at them.' The former monarch denied appointing Prasai as the commander of the demonstration, claiming he had not even met Prasai since an event held at Mechi Bridge in Jhapa several years ago. On March 27, a day before the protest, Prasai's vehicle was reportedly seen leaving Nirmal Niwas. However, RPP leaders said that Prasai had only met an aide to the king, not Gyanendra Shah himself, the Kathmandu Post reported. Furthermore, the former king reportedly denied designating Nabaraj Subedi as the coordinator of the so-called Joint People's Movement. Subedi, who remains under house arrest, also denied having any recent contact with the former monarch. 'It has been more than six months since I met the former king,' Subedi told the Post, clarifying that he was approached by other royalist leaders to lead the protest in the absence of a consensus candidate. 'The former king has no role in it,' he added. Despite the lack of consensus within the party and the complications surrounding its detained leaders, the RPP continues to press forward with its demand to reinstate Nepal's monarchy and establish a Hindu state, maintaining that the events of March 28 deserve thorough investigation and accountability. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Times of Oman
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Nepali royalists announce to break into restricted zone near parliament, call for protest in Kathmandu
Kathmandu: Nepal's royalist party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has announced to break into the restricted zone near the parliament as it calls for a protest on Sunday afternoon. The RPP is staging a protest demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the release of their party leaders. "We are ready to be arrested by staging a demonstration in the restricted area. Rajendra Lingden is ready to be jailed," the party president Rajendra Lingden confirmed to ANI over the phone. The party is also planning to hold protest assemblies in all 77 districts on April 22. Last week, the party president during the party's Executive Committee meeting had accused the government of infringing on citizens' fundamental rights by arbitrarily designating prohibited areas. "We are being pushed into a corner. That's why we've decided to protest in restricted zones," said Lingden. The RPP has also decided to wage a legal and political struggle for the unconditional release of party leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana. Mishra and Rana were arrested following a deadly violence on March 28, for inciting the mob. The violence had claimed the lives of two people, injuring over 100, as the capital witnessed arson and vandalism. As the fifth largest party in the Nepali parliament, now in opposition, has announced that it will breach the restricted zone. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued a warning. "Legal action would be taken against those violating the law or inciting public disorder," the ministry said in the warning released on Saturday night. "Any activity that encourages the violation of the constitution or existing laws or spreads anarchy in society would not be tolerated," the ministry warned. Along with this, it urged all individuals to refrain from 'anarchic, provocative, or illegal acts' that could incite violence. The government has designated areas surrounding the federal parliament building at New Baneshwar, among various other places in Kathmandu, as restricted zones. The RPP has not only planned to stage a show of strength at Bijulibazar, near the parliament building, but has also announced to breach the restriction at Baneshwar. The party, which has been demanding the reinstatement of a constitutional monarchy and the establishment of Nepal as a Hindu state, staged a protest assembly at Balkhu as designated by the government on April 8. Republicans of the present time, whereas the public will be the sovereign, the King will be a parental institution, a directly elected Prime Minister, a sovereign Hindu state, federal governments replaced with powerful local bodies and a strong central government." Formed in the 1990s after the lifting of the ban on the formation of political parties by the then-monarchical system, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has since then served as a force always supporting the Kingship. It has also been taking part in periodic elections and presenting its demands forth. In 2008, right after the overthrow of the monarchy rule in Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had secured 8 seats in the then Constituent Assembly out of the 575 seated strong parliament. In the 2013 election, it was able to secure 13 seats, while in the year 2017 it fell to 1 seat, and it bounced back in the election of 2022 with 14 seats. The party, since its inception, has been supporting the Hindu State and the Kingship as interdependent in the tiny nation buffered between two giants, India and China. The Himalayan Nation of Nepal has a population of 30.55 million, and has a Hindu population of 81.19% as per the census of 2022. The Monarch of the Himalayan Nation, which follows the lineage of the Shah dynasty, was revered as an incarnation of the Hindu god Bishnu. With the abolishment of the monarchy, it got limited to a very small group, which is now again reemerging.
