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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nepal bans protests around Narayanhiti Palace area amid protests by pro-monarchy groups
Nepal's authorities on Friday (May 30, 2025) banned protests and public gatherings around the Narayanhiti Palace area in the heart of Kathmandu amid demonstrations by pro-monarchist groups demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hindu state. According to a notice issued by Chief District Officer Rishiram Tiwari, the restriction will be in effect from Saturday (May 31, 2025) until July 8. The restricted zone spans from Kesharmahal Chowk to the southern gate of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, including the route via Jaya Nepal Mode and the Mahendra Statue to the museum's southern gate. All forms of protests, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations and assemblies are prohibited in this area. Similar prohibitory orders had earlier been enforced in front of the residences of the President and Vice President, the Parliament building as well as in Bhadrakali, Singha Durbar and surrounding areas. The decision came in the wake of pro-monarchy demonstrations in the capital city. The pro-monarchist groups, including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), have launched Kathmandu-centred protest programmes from Thursday (May 29, 2025) with the objectives of reinstatement of monarchy and establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal. They have announced that they will organise demonstrations near the Narayanhiti Palace Museum area on Saturday (May 31, 2025). The protesters, including cadres and leaders of the RPP, disrupted traffic in several parts of Kathmandu, including Maitighar-Mandala, Babarmahal and Naya Baneshwar area. The RPP is the fifth-largest party in the House of Representatives. The protesters, carrying photographs of former King Gyanendra, chanted slogans against Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government. The protests have been peaceful so far. Nepalese political parties, through a Parliament declaration, abolished the 240-year-old monarchy in 2008 and turned the erstwhile Hindu kingdom into a secular, federal, democratic republic. There have been a series of protests in Kathmandu and some other parts of the country by the pro-monarchists, in recent months, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Nepali royalists launch new phase of protest for restoration of monarchy, ruling CPN-UML counters in defence of republic
Kathmandu: Nepali royalists on Thursday launched a new phase of protest for the restoration of monarchy, which saw hundreds of people chant slogans on the street on the first day. In defence of the republic, a new political system adopted in 2008 in Nepal, t he ruling CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal--Unified Marxist Leninist) also held a counterprotest in the streets of Kathmandu in defence of the republic. The ruling party, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, organised a march in Kathmandu on Republic Day, entitled "Republic Mahotsav." "The public became the rulers from this day onwards, following this pursuit, the CPN-UML today is marking the Republic Day as 'utsav' (grand celebration). The party, as well as I personally request everyone to strengthen the voice in support of the republic," Surya Dhakal, lawmaker from the CPN-UML, told ANI as he participated in the rally. The ruling party cadres and supporters chanted slogans in support of the republic as they marched along the streets of the capital. In the wake of possible tensions, the local administration had designated two different areas and timings for the two groups to converge on the street. But the royalist forces, who claimed to have started a "joint people's movement", forging a committee, attempted to block the roadways for the parading cadres of the ruling parties. Police held the royalists on the side until the ruling party's parade passed by. The royalist right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the fifth largest party in the lower house of parliament, claimed that it would bring 25000 people onto the streets. As per the estimate of Nepal Police, about 3000 protestors hit the streets of Kathmandu. Encouraged by rising frustration with the incumbent system, the royalist group of about 40 different factions has been demanding restoration of the Hindu kingdom, abolition of federalism, and a directly elected prime ministerial system, among other things. Restoration of the constitutional monarchy has been their bottom line. Nepal, a Hindu kingdom, was declared a federal, secular, and republican state in 2008. "We will reinstate him in Narayanhiti Palace (former royal palace) and coronate him, then only we will return back. Our protest will continue until we achieve it. All of our leaders- Rajendra Lingden, Gyanendra Shahi all are determined. This time we are here with about 40 different factions moving ahead together. We are on this movement unifying the hearts of people, and that would make the heart of the king," Sunita Gajmer, a royalist, told ANI. 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 served as a force always supporting the Kingship. It has also been taking part in periodic elections and presenting its demands. In 2008, right after the overthrow of the monarchy rule in Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) secured 8 seats in the Constituent Assembly out of the 575-seat parliament. In the 2013 election, it was able to secure 13 seats. In 2017, it fell down to 1 seat, but it bounced back in the 2022 election with 14 seats. Since its inception, the party has supported the Hindu State and 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 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 abolishment monarchy it got limited to a very small group which now again is reemerging.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nepal observes 18th Republic Day as monarchists hold rally
Nepal observed its 18th Republic Day on Thursday as opposing political groups organised demonstrations for and against the federal democratic republic system established in 2008. The government mobilised around 6,000 security personnel to prevent possible clashes between the ruling CPN-UML and pro-monarchist groups led by Rastriya Prajatantra Party in the heart of the city. PM Oli, at the Republic Day celebrations in Bhrikuti Mandap, said the republic was an expression of the will of the people, and a 'Royal call' will have no effect against it. President Ram Chandra Poudel, taking cognisance of the organised anger of the people, called for a change of conduct. On the other hand, pro-monarchists led by the RPP organised a protest carrying the banners of former King Gyanendra's picture. RPP chair Rajendra Lingden and senior party leaders, including Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Kamal Thapa and Prakash Chandra Lohani, participated in the protests. May 29 marks the historic announcement of the federal democratic republic in Nepal, made by the first meeting of the Parliament on Jestha 15, 2065 BS (May 28, 2008), which ended the 240-year-old monarchy. Since then, Jestha 15 has been observed annually as Republic Day across the country. A high-security alert was sounded on Thursday to prevent any untoward incidents. Special security has been provided to key areas such as the Tribhuvan International Airport, Parliament, the Signdurbar Secretariat and the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar on the occasion.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Nepal's royalists demand restoration of monarchy dumped 17 years ago
FILE PHOTO: A Pro-monarchy supporter affiliated with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) with a badge of former King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and former Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah takes part during a protest demanding the restoration of constitutional monarchy in Kathmandu, Nepal April 8, 2025. - Photo: Reuters 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. - Reuters
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Nepal's royalists demand restoration of monarchy dumped 17 years ago
FILE PHOTO: A Pro-monarchy supporter affiliated with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) with a badge of former King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and former Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah takes part during a protest demanding the restoration of constitutional monarchy in Kathmandu, Nepal April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/File Photo KATHMANDU - Thousands of supporters of Nepal's former king rallied in the capital Kathmandu on Thursday, 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. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
