What’s the demand?
The massive rally on Saturday witnessed the public chanting slogans in favour of the Hindu monarchy and the demand for reinstatement of constitutional monarchy in the Himalayan Nation. The protesters cited the demand is valid for the sake of the country's national unity and well-being of the people.
The massive rally has come after a series of similar protests held in the past month for a constitutional monarchy. Protestors were seen carrying placards bearing a photo of Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founding father of modern Nepal along with national flags. On November 10, a group with banner "Nationalist Civic Society" staged a demonstration in Jamal of Kathmandu, demanding restoration of constitutional monarchy and announce Nepal a Hindu state. Two days later, a group named Nepal Scholar Council held a demonstration in Biratnagar with the same demands.
Saturday's demonstration was held under the banner of Rashtriya Nagarik Andolan Samiti 2077 (National Civic Movement Committee 2020). Similar kind of protest was planned by Rashtriya Prajatantra Party in the Jhapa hometown of incumbent Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in support of the monarch and monarchy.
What led to these protests?
Protesters raised slogans against the Federal Democratic Republican System that Nepal adopted in 2008 after the abolition of the 240-year-old monarchy. Since then, Nepal transitioned into a federal democratic republic after the promulgation of a new constitution in 2015. In 2017, the first general elections were held after the promulgation charter gave a clear mandate to an alliance of the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) incumbent NCP which is now in power.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who assumed power with responsibilities to implement the constitution, strengthen federalism and good governance seems to have failed in these aspects. As per the experts in Kathmandu, the demand to reinstate the monarch has arisen due to failed attempts of current political parties to cater to the public interest.
The protests have revived once again after the democratic forces including the ruling and opposition parties failed to live up to expectations. Most are unhappy with the working of the current government and also witnessed the failure in controlling the pandemic besides, corruption and in implementing federalism, opined the political observers.