Republicans, royalists slug it out in Nepal over return to monarchy

There seems to be little sympathy for the ‘king’ and ‘royalists’ — among them former Bollywood actor Manisha Koirala — in the mainstream Nepali media that one can access. On social media, however, the reaction is seemingly more mixed, with many blaming the government for the mayhem on ‘Black Friday’, 28 March.

Both republicans and royalists on that day were allowed to hold demonstrations in different parts of Kathmandu to minimise the possibility of a clash. But self-styled ‘commander’ Durga Prasain, described as a prominent businessman, drove his vehicle through the police cordon and allegedly instigated his followers to indulge in violence.

The mob ransacked shops and a pharmaceutical company, torched vehicles, set fire to houses, and attacked offices of political parties and media outlets. Two people, including a journalist, lost their lives, a protestor in police firing and the journalist burning to death when he failed to escape from a house which was set on fire.

Protesters also attempted to set fire to the office of Annapurna Post and pelted stones at the Kantipur Television building. A Himalayan TV van was set alight. Apart from media buildings, protestors vandalised private property and party buildings, as well as ransacked a Bhatbhateni department store and a pharmaceutical factory.

Owner of Avenues TV Bhaskar Rajkarnikar, who is on a pro-monarchy committee led by Manisha Koirala, was the one who had a journalist burned to death by royalist protesters. He has since accused the police of not doing enough to douse the fire and rescue Suresh Rajak.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday warned: “If this is what Gyanendra is doing now, what will he do if he is king? He has never been a constitutional monarch, and he never will be.”

A special editorial titled 'Hold Gyanendra Shah Accountable in Kantipur' did not mince words. "Instead of presenting ideological, political, and practical arguments for monarchy, the royalists have engaged in vandalism, arson, and looting, proving that frenzy and chaos is inherent in their identity and character," it pointed out.

Most other editorials and analyses, however, also emphasised that Friday’s protest was an indication of public dissatisfaction with Nepal’s three main party leaders, who have been prime minister multiple times — their corruption, lack of accountability and impunity.

Since 2008, Nepal has had as many as 14 governments and 10 prime ministers. After the Covid pandemic, India stopping recruiting Gorkhas for the Indian Army, offering them the option of joining as Agniveers instead, thereby aggravating the decline of the economy. Unemployment has soared and people have been grappling with inflation. Royalists are stoking public anger and warning that unless the monarchy is restored, there will be no stability, and Nepal too could meet the fate of Bangladesh.

However, in the last 48 hours, the hashtag #ArrestGyanendra trended on X demanding the arrest of the country's last king Gyanendra Shah, and bringing him to justice. Kathmandu municipal authorities on Saturday fined the former king — who many see as a usurper who 'unlawfully' ascended the throne following the horrifying mass shooting of his brother King Birendra and most of Birendra's family — a sum of Rs 7.93 lakh, holding him responsible for destruction of railings and a traffic intersection, and for littering the streets on Friday. The authorities explained that the damage to private property was beyond their jurisdiction.

As many as 130 people have been arrested, including Shamsher Rana. Another leader of the pro-royalist Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, Nawaraj Subedi, was placed under house arrest, reported Nepali media.

RPP spokesperson Rajendra Lingden warned the government and the ‘republican’ parties against dragging the former king into the turmoil, and dared the government to arrest ‘king’ Gyanendra, who continues to live in Kathmandu, alternating between two homes.

Durga Prasain, the self-styled commander, is apparently known to be particularly close to the royal descendant and is accused by many to have planned the pro-monarchy demonstrations. He was absconding until the time of filing this report on Sunday morning.

At least two former prime ministers, Pushpa Kamal Dahal — better known in India as Prachanda, who as a Maoist remained in hiding in India for years — and Madhav Nepal, have called for a thorough investigation into Friday’s violence. They also blamed the government for allowing the violence to escalate and mishandling the situation.

Stung, the government of K.P. Sharma Oli, according to media reports, is said to be contemplating various options, including impounding the passport of the former king so that he does not leave the country.