Nepal: Ongoing protests in Nepal for monarchy

Press Release Apr 9, 2025 34 Add to Reading List

Nepal , a Himalayan kingdom bordering India, is home to ancient temples , warriors, and sky-high peaks. The people of the country thought that the country would fall apart after the monarchy was abolished and democracy was established. However, years of political instability, corruption, and unfulfilled promises have led people in the Himalayan kingdom to take to the streets. They are demanding the restoration of the monarchy and the declaration of a Hindu state.
In 2008, the monarchy was abolished and a secular state was formed
. Nepal's political journey has been dramatic. The Shah dynasty ruled Nepal for almost 240 years from 1769 to 2008. A popular movement was launched in 1990 to establish a parliamentary democracy with the king as the supreme authority. The then King Birendra agreed to this. However, an incident in 2001 led to the end of the monarchy in Nepal. Birendra's son Deependra killed his father, mother, brothers, and sisters, and then committed suicide.

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People who were fed up with the constant changes of power in
Nepal, even though democracy was established, changes of power have become a routine. This has led to intolerance towards the existing parties among the people. They took to the streets to protest political instability, corruption, and financial exploitation. They shouted slogans demanding the restoration of the monarchy. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party led the public protests. Since the monarchy was abolished in Nepal on May 28, 2008, 13 governments have changed in 17 years.
The Nepalese government has reduced the security of former King Gyanendra Shah after a violent incident in Kathmandu. The city's municipal authorities have fined Gyanendra Shah $5,900 for destroying public property in Kathmandu.