Nepal’s royalist party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), plans to protest near the federal parliament in Kathmandu this Sunday afternoon. The protest calls for the return of the monarchy and the release of its arrested leaders.
Party President Rajendra Lingden announced the protest. He stated, “We will protest inside the restricted area. I am ready to be arrested if needed.”
Why Is RPP Protesting?
The RPP is pushing for two things:
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Bringing back the monarchy
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Freeing party leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana
Police arrested both leaders after violent protests rocked Kathmandu on March 28. Those protests turned deadly, leaving two dead and more than 100 injured. Protesters damaged property and clashed with security forces in several parts of the capital.
In addition, the RPP is organizing rallies across all 77 districts of Nepal on April 22.
Government Issues Warning
In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a public notice on Saturday night. It warned that anyone breaking the law or promoting violence would face legal action.
The ministry said, “No activity that disrespects the law or spreads chaos will be tolerated.” It also asked people to avoid aggressive or illegal behavior.
Meanwhile, authorities have declared several areas off-limits, especially around the federal parliament building in New Baneshwar. Despite this, RPP members are preparing to gather at Bijulibazar and enter the restricted Baneshwar zone.
RPP’s Demands
The RPP has a clear set of demands:
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Restore Nepal’s constitutional monarchy
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Rebuild Nepal as a Hindu state
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Replace federal governments with strong local bodies
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Elect the Prime Minister directly
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Strengthen the central government
Recently, party leader Lingden accused the government of unfairly limiting public freedoms by blocking off certain areas. “We are cornered. That’s why we’ll protest in restricted zones,” he explained.
Who Are Mishra and Rana?
Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana are senior RPP leaders. Police arrested them last month, blaming them for encouraging violence during protests. Those protests resulted in two deaths and over 100 injuries.
As a result, the party has promised to fight for their immediate release, using both legal steps and public protests.
RPP’s Political Background
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) was founded in the 1990s after Nepal’s monarchy allowed political parties. Since then, it has always backed the monarchy and called for a Hindu nation.
After Nepal abolished the monarchy in 2008, RPP managed to win 8 seats in the 575-member parliament. In the 2013 elections, it improved to 13 seats. However, in 2017, the number dropped to just 1 seat. The party bounced back in 2022, securing 14 seats, making it the fifth largest party in parliament.
The RPP believes Nepal’s monarchy and Hindu identity are deeply connected. Nepal, with a population of 30.55 million, is home to 81.19% Hindus, according to the 2022 census.
Historically, Nepal’s kings from the Shah dynasty were believed to be living forms of the Hindu god Bishnu (Vishnu). Although the monarchy officially ended in 2008, royalist supporters have been growing again in recent years.
What’s Next?
As Sunday’s protest approaches, tensions remain high. The RPP is preparing to move into the restricted area, while the government warns of strict action.
The planned protests in all 77 districts on April 22 are expected to test both the party’s strength and the government’s control.
