Kathmandu, June 1, 2025 —
Nepal is witnessing growing political unrest as pro-monarchy demonstrators took to the streets demanding the reinstatement of the Himalayan nation’s former royal regime. The situation escalated dramatically on Sunday when police forcefully detained former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, dragging him across the road during a protest in Kathmandu, sparking outrage among royalist supporters.
Thousands of demonstrators, led by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and other royalist factions, rallied in the capital, chanting slogans in favor of restoring the monarchy and declaring their dissatisfaction with the current republican democratic system. Protesters clashed with police forces as security personnel attempted to disperse crowds and maintain order in the sensitive zones of the city.
Video footage and images circulating on social media showed Kamal Thapa being manhandled and pulled by his legs on the road by uniformed police officers, drawing criticism from political leaders and civil society. Thapa, a vocal supporter of constitutional monarchy, condemned the act and accused the government of authoritarian behavior and stifling democratic rights.
In response to the crackdown, several royalist groups have called for a Kathmandu Bandh (Kathmandu shutdown), demanding the release of detained protesters, including party leaders, and calling for the government to hold a referendum on the future of monarchy in Nepal.
The Home Ministry has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, sources indicate heightened security deployments across key urban areas as authorities brace for potential escalations in the coming days.
Nepal, which abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 and became a federal democratic republic, has seen sporadic but increasingly frequent demonstrations by royalist groups who claim the monarchy ensured national unity and cultural identity.
Analysts believe the growing frustration among certain sections of the public over governance, corruption, and economic stagnation is fueling nostalgia for the past, and giving fresh momentum to monarchist movements.
