Nepal in Protest Ahead of Elections, Raises Demands

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk: Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Nepal, thousands of people staged a massive protest rally in Kathmandu demanding the restoration of the monarchy.

On Friday (February 13), the crowd gathered in front of Tribhuvan International Airport to welcome former King Gyanendra Shah and call for the return of the abolished monarchy. Despite several hundred riot police being deployed, the former king greeted the cheering crowd by waving from the sunroof of his car.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Bring back the king” and “Restore the constitutional monarchy”. The route from the airport to his private residence was filled with supporters, and the enthusiasm of the crowd during his visit to the eastern region of Nepal has sparked significant political attention.

It is noteworthy that in 2006, facing mass protests, Gyanendra Shah was forced to relinquish his absolute power, and in 2008, the monarchy was officially abolished through a parliamentary vote.

Last year, a similar monarchist gathering drew around 10,000 participants, during which two people died in violence. However, Friday’s rally was peaceful, and the police did not make any arrests. Nepal’s national elections are scheduled for March. Although monarchist parties won only about 5 percent of seats in the previous election, the scale of this rally indicates their intention to exert a greater influence this time.

Former King Gyanendra Shah did not personally comment on the demand to restore the monarchy, but the growing public support for him is seen as a significant signal regarding the current political situation.

Although the main political parties remain strongly opposed to restoring the monarchy, this massive pro-monarchy rally just before the elections hints at a potential new political dynamic in Nepal’s future.

Source: AP