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The Hindu
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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]]
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Nepali royalists launch new phase of protest for restoration of monarchy, ruling CPN-UML counters in defence of republic
Kathmandu [Nepal], May 30 (ANI): 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, the 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. (ANI)
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Nepal: Thousands in Kathmandu call for return of monarchy – DW – 05/29/2025
Amid frustration with the political status quo and lackluster economic situation, thousands of Nepalis are calling for the king to return. The monarchy in Nepal was abolished in 2008. Thousands of demonstrators in Nepal's capital Kathmandu urged the return of the monarchy to the Himalayan nation on Thursday, after it had been abolished in 2008. Nepal has been a republic with a president since the end of the monarchy, but some Nepali citizens are calling for the return of the king and making Hinduism the state religion amid dissatisfaction with recent elected governments. 'We love our king more than our lives' Gyanedra Shah, the wealthy former king who still lives in Kathmandu, is currently 77 years old. The monarchy had lasted 239 years in Nepal before Shah's ouster. "Bring king back to the throne and save the country. We love our king more than our lives," protesters chanted. The demonstrators vowed to not give up until the monarchy returns Image: Prakash Mathema/AFP/Getty Images The protesters are not only frustrated with Nepal's political class, but also the country's economic condition. Many Nepalis leave for better employment opportunities abroad in countries like the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Malaysia and send the money back home in remittances. Monarchy unlikely to return, as major parties against the idea There was also a rally backing Nepal's current status as a republic and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli in Kathmandu mere meters (feet) away from the pro-monarchy demonstration. Hundreds of riot police were deployed to keep the pro-monarchy and pro-republic groups divided in the Nepali capital. A similar pro-monarchy demonstration in March led to the deaths of several people. Although some Nepali citizens want the monarchy to return, the country's three major political parties that control the vast majority of seats in parliament are against the idea. In addition, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party only holds 13 seats in the 275-member parliament, meaning it has little influence on the country's political trajectory. From dishwasher to alpine lodge manager To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Zac Crellin
