'Bring king back:' Thousands hit streets in Nepal to demand restoration of monarchy

Tens of thousands of people in Nepal held a massive demonstration on Thursday (May 29), demanding the return of the abolished monarchy and for the former king to become the head of state again.

Waving flags and shouting slogans, the protesters called for the king’s return and for Hinduism to be reinstated as the state religion as they marched through the main circle in Kathmandu, the capital.

Meanwhile, just a few hundred meters away, supporters of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli gathered at the exhibition grounds to celebrate Republic Day.

There were concerns that the two groups might clash and cause trouble in the city. Hundreds of riot police kept them apart, and authorities allowed them to hold their rallies at different times to avoid conflict.

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Nepal abolished the monarchy and turned the nation into a republic in 2008, bringing in a president as the head of the state.

“Bring king back to the throne and save the country. We love our king more than our lives,” the estimated 20,000 protesters chanted with a few playing traditional drums and musical instruments.

“We are going to continue our protests until the centuries-old monarchy is brought back and the country turned in to a Hindu stage for the interest of the country,” said Dil Nath Giri, a supporter of the former king at the rally.

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Earlier, the pro-monarchy group announced that they are going to resume their protests starting Thursday.

When similar protests erupted earlier on March 28, they soon turned violent as demonstrators torched government buildings and attacked government supporters, leading to the death of two people, including a TV cameraman.

Nepal police had then arrested many, who still languish in jail.

These people are calling for the former Nepali king, Gyanendra Shah, to be reinstated. They are also demanding a return to Nepal’s status as a Hindu country.

They say the country has had enough of “corrupt politicians” and only the king can steer the Himalayan nation towards progress and prosperity.