A television Journalist Suresh Rajak, working for Avenues Television, was burnt to death as his charred body was traced in a house that was set ablaze by royalists after their protest turned violent on March 28, 2025. According to the statement released by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the protest rally led by royalists turned violent after they clashed with security personnel. Pro-monarchy protesters began to pelt stones at people's homes in Tinkune (Kathmandu) and involved themselves in acts of arson.
The royalists in the entire process resorted to violence and obstruction of the democratic (and fundamental) rights of the people. This infamous Tinkune protest also witnessed arson, vandalism, stone pelting and looting during the clashes between pro-monarchy protesters and security forces. The royalists’ protest bore little resemblance to a true demonstration, making it difficult to consider it a democratic form of protest against the ruling government. It had a tone and tenor of being ‘a riot’ or ‘my way is the highway’. Just contrary to this, on that very day socialist fronts of Nepal (CPN (Maoist center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepal Samajbadi Party, Biplav-led NCP group) also organized their mass demonstrations which passed off peacefully in a true democratic spirit.
These socialist fronts identify themselves with republicans - those who do not want a monarch as head of the state. As per the reported statement of Chhabi Rijal, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, ‘approximately 35,000 people attended the Socialist Front’s demonstration while the pro-monarchy protest could garner only 5,000 protesters. Question here is how a pro-monarchy protest turned violent that brought the ex-king Gyanendra at the brink of arrest as the motive of instigating the protesters was imputed on him. Protesters were demanding to reinstate him as ‘King’ of Nepal again. The ex-king Gyanendra found himself embroiled in the political ‘slugfest’. The ruling party CPN (UML) asked the former king Gyanendra Shah to take responsibility for the deadly riots during a pro-monarchy demonstration in Tinkune, Kathmandu on March 28, 2025.
This has led to another question as to what actually pro-monarchy forces want in the country after two successful Mass Movements – one in 1990 and another in 2006 which ‘firmly’ established Nepal as the democratic republic state. Royalists say that they are disenchanted by the democratic and republican forces of the country due to corruption and usurpation of the country’s resources by the new ruling class. They think that the erstwhile Shah dynasty (former king Gyanendra in this case and his family) will provide them ‘good governance’ that they have been coveting for so long with the identity of Hindu state. Royalists seem to be coining the famous maxim, ‘The king can do no wrong’. Can the king in reality do no wrong? This is to be analyzed by going into the history and past political developments that took place after King Tribhuwan came out of the shadow of the 104 years of absolute Rana rule in 1951.
As of now, a clamor and chant for ‘monarchy once again’ has not turned into a music for ears throughout the length and breadth of Nepal.
Royalists are divided on the nature and character of monarchy (the hereditary rule of the Shah dynasty through the family of former king Gyanendra). Some of the known political parties who subscribe to the monarchical state in Nepal are Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party - Nepal, Rastriya Shakti Nepal, Nepali Congress (BP) and Shiv Sena. Undeniably, there are other pro-monarchy forces and groups that too exist in Nepal. Do they really want to scrap all the democratic gains achieved in the country so far right from the time of King Tribhuwan to the time of King Gyanendra? This must be carefully examined, for the nation’s political trajectory cannot keep revolving in circles—from Rana rule to absolute monarchy, to constitutional monarchy, to democracy, to republicanism, and back again to monarchy. Pro-monarchy parties and forces must develop consensus on their demands before they hit the street and face the people.
They should unambiguously put forth their arguments in an unequivocal manner because too many cooks spoil the broth. If at all the former king Gyanendra Bikram shah has lurking political ambition for power, people must know how he is going to achieve it even as the democratic republican forces, who he fought against, are at the helm of political affairs. Pro-monarchy political parties and forces, if they actually speak for (or on behalf of) the former king, must tell the world at large including people of Nepal how they see him as a savior on a volatile political turf.
How will the dynastic rule of the Shah-family be any different from the rule of the present dispensation?
As of now, a clamor and chant for ‘monarchy once again’ has not turned into a music for ears throughout the length and breadth of Nepal.
(Binod Kumar Pathak is an editor (of academic books), educator and academician)
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