|
The protesters, waving flags and chanting slogans, demanded the
return of the king and the restoration of Hinduism as a state
religion as they marched through the main circle in the capital,
Kathmandu.
Just a few hundred meters (yards) from the pro-monarchy
protesters, their opponents, who are supporters of the Prime
Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, had gathered at the exhibition
grounds to celebrate Republic Day.
There was fear that these two groups could likely clash and
create trouble in the city. Hundreds of riot police kept the two
groups apart and authorities had given them permission on
different times to carry out their rallies.
Nepal abolished the monarchy and turned the nation into a
republic in 2008, bringing in a president as the head of the
state.
“Bring king back to the throne and save the country. We love our
king more than our lives,” the estimated 20,000 protesters
chanted with a few playing traditional drums and musical
instruments.
“We are going to continue our protests until the centuries-old
monarchy is brought back and the country turned in to a Hindu
stage for the interest of the country,” said Dil Nath Giri, a
supporter of the former king at the rally.
The pro-monarchy supporters had announced they were restarting
their protests from Thursday.
In their last protest on March 28, two people including a
television cameraman, were killed when protesters attacked
buildings and set them on fire while police fired bullets and
tear gas on the protesters. Several protesters arrested on that
day are still in jail.
There has been growing demand in recent months for Gyanendra
Shah to be reinstated as king and Hinduism to be brought back as
a state religion. Royalist groups accuse the country’s major
political parties of corruption and failed governance and say
people are frustrated with politicians.
Massive street protests in 2006 forced Gyanendra to give up his
authoritarian rule, and two years later the parliament voted to
abolish the monarchy.
Gyanendra, who left the Royal Palace to live as commoner, has
not commented on the calls for the return of monarchy. Despite
growing support, the former king has little chance of
immediately returning to power.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
