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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has briefed the Parliament about his impending official visit to Thailand and his participation in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit.

On the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, PM Oli will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other counterparts from the member-states.

Earlier, two leaders met in New York in September last year on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Addressing a meeting of the House of Representatives today, he said that Nepal’s prime minister is making an official visit to Thailand for the first time after 65 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. PM Oli is paying an official visit to Thailand from Tuesday.

Prime Minister Oli said this visit would be significant in the context of no official visit having taken place to Bangkok, which is the ‘gateway’ for Nepalis to countries other than the immediate neighbouring countries.

During the visit, PM Oli will hold meetings with the King of Thailand and his Thai counterpart. Eight MoUs will be signed—six between the non-governmental sectors of the two countries and two related to tourism and culture—in the presence of the two PMs.

PM Oli said he would hold discussions with eminent businesspeople of Thailand and address a program to be organized at the Asian Institute of Technology.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to address the BIMSTEC Summit on April 4. PM Oli informed that he will also hold sideline talks with the leaders of the member-states attending the summit.

In the wake of violent protests organized by pro-monarchy forces in Kathmandu on March 28, politicians and security experts have raised serious concerns over the government’s handling of the demonstrations. Critical lapses in intelligence and security preparedness allowed chaos to spiral out of control.

Security officials revealed that agencies failed to detect or act on the plans of Durga Prasai, the protest’s designated leader. Prasai reportedly used incendiary language, framing the event as a “people’s revolt” rather than a peaceful rally. Experts argue that his rhetoric was deliberately provocative, even suggesting the Nepal Army might intervene—a claim that heightened tensions ahead of the protest.

Lawmaker Raj Kishor Yadav, chair of Parliament’s International Relations and Tourism Committee, criticized the glaring lack of preparations. “Despite knowing about the protests days in advance, key installations in the Tinkune area—including airports, petrol pumps, and media houses—were left unsecured,” Yadav noted.

The administration’s decision to permit two large-scale protests on the same day further strained security forces. Authorities were reportedly preoccupied with preventing potential clashes between republican and pro-monarchy supporters, diverting attention from preventing vandalism and property damage. Yadav argued that a single protest might have led to a less severe outcome.

Another point of contention was the police’s inaction when Prasai was seen recklessly driving from Tinkune to Baneshwor. Security experts criticized the decision not to immobilize his vehicle—such as by deflating its tires—instead of resorting to a risky attempt to snatch the keys from a moving car. Many believe this hesitation endangered both law enforcement and the public.

Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), questioned whether police ignored directives after protesters vandalized the party office in Aalok Nagar. “Did police disobey your instructions?” he pressed Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, highlighting concerns over accountability. Party leaders claim they had warned police of a potential attack on their party office that morning—yet no preventive measures were taken. Further scrutiny arose over Prasai’s delayed arrest. Despite remaining in the Kathmandu Valley late into the night, he was not apprehended, with police now claiming ignorance of his whereabouts.

Behind these operational failures lies a long-standing issue of resource shortages. Both Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have repeatedly cited inadequate funding and outdated equipment. For over a decade, requests for modern weapons, vehicles, and logistical support have gone unaddressed by the Home Ministry, severely hampering their ability to manage large-scale unrest.

Last year, Nepal Police explicitly warned the Home Ministry of their inability to control riots due to logistical deficiencies. Home Minister Lekhak too was informed but took no action. “The failure to procure weapons for over a decade has crippled our operations,” a senior officer stated. As the country reflects on the events of March 28, urgent questions remain about security agencies’ decision-making and the systemic failures that enabled the chaos. A thorough review of security protocols, resource allocation, and inter-agency coordination is now imperative to prevent future breakdowns.

Jurshital is an ancient folk festival celebrated across Madhes, akin to Holi, but with the joyous tradition of playing with mud instead of colors. This festival is observed annually before the advent of the New Year in the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar. It is a social festival enjoyed by all, characterized by fun and merriment. Jurshital is neither entirely cultural nor religious; rather, it is a one-day festivity that brings people together in celebration.

The festival marks the beginning of the New Year in the spring season, a time when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere. It is widely celebrated by Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, and Tharu-speaking communities in southern Nepal, as well as in certain regions of neighboring India. Jurshital usually falls on April 14th or 15th each year, heralding the arrival of the New Year in the Bikram era.

Jurshital embodies a deep connection between nature and humanity. In today’s fast-paced world, people often struggle to appreciate the beauty of nature. As the poet William Wordsworth once wrote:

“The world is too much with us; we have no time to stand and stare.”

This festival serves as a reminder to reconnect with nature. The very name ‘Jurshital’ reflects this essence: ‘Jur’ means connection, and ‘Shital’ means coolness. It symbolizes staying calm and composed, even if just for a day. Playing with fresh, pure mud is believed to have medicinal benefits, acting as a natural remedy for skin ailments and stress.

One of the unique traditions of the festival is the act of seniors pouring cold water on the heads of juniors, signifying blessings and a wish for a calm and peaceful mind. This ritual strengthens social and cultural bonds within the community. Additionally, plants, trees, and animals are also included in the celebrations, as people pour pure and cool water over them early in the morning to maintain the ecosystem.

Jurshital begins with a local ritual called ‘Satuaiyan’ on the first day of Baisakh. The second day, Baisakh 2nd, is marked by the practice of seniors pouring water on juniors’ heads as a gesture of love and well-being. A significant aspect of the festival is the consumption of ‘Satua’, a flour made from roasted gram, which keeps the body cool and is rich in nutrients such as iron and magnesium. This medicinal diet is high in protein and low in sodium, making it an ideal breakfast choice.

Another traditional practice during Jurshital is giving the kitchen a break for a day. People eat food prepared the previous day, which is believed to be cooling for the body and mind. Delicacies such as cold curd-based curry, rice, ‘badi’ (sun-dried lentil dumplings), mango chutney, drumstick (‘Sohijan’) curry, and vegetable fritters are enjoyed. This practice also symbolizes respect for fire, as no cooking is done on the first day of Baisakh.

A significant cultural aspect of Jurshital is the performance of the folk drama ‘Salhesh’, which is especially popular among the Dushadh community. Salhesh, a revered figure in Madheshi folklore, is worshipped as a domestic deity by the Dushadh people, though members of other castes also participate in the festivities. The worship of Salhesh takes place in open spaces, usually under a ‘pipal’ tree on the outskirts of villages. The ritual involves offerings of rice, incense sticks, and sandalwood, among other sacred items.

A priest, embodying Salhesh, performs a trance-like ritual, chanting mantras and engaging in dramatic acts such as walking on the edge of a sword, which devotees believe is a manifestation of divine possession. He then showers flowers and rice upon the audience as a blessing before returning to normalcy.

In the past, the Dushadh community was considered a lower caste in the hierarchical caste system of Madhesh. However, in the present era of democracy and equality, caste-based discrimination has diminished, and the Dushadhs are now regarded as equal members of society. They actively participate in social activities without any distinctions.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the then King Gyanendra Shah who is involved in criminal activities will not be spared.

He said that while speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday.

Saying that pro-monarchy protesters had committed a criminal act on March 28, the Prime Minister said that the former King will not be spared.

“Those involved in the criminal activities will not be exempted from punishment. The former king also will not be spared,” PM Oli said.  “Shouldn't those who say they will become the King again and destroy the system make their views public on all these incidents?” he questioned.

The Prime Minister said that the administration was informed that two political programs will be held in Kathmandu on March 28, highlighting that they would be peaceful.

“The Socialist Front under the leadership of the political parties which have good presence in the Parliament held a demonstration in a grand manner. They made public their views, warned the government and expressed their commitment to the system and Constitution,” he said, adding,” The demonstration was peaceful and I would like to thank the organizers. I believe that this is the way to strengthen our federal democratic republic.”

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He went on to say that the venue at Tinkune was given to another group to hold the protest. “But there was suspicion and confusion about who the organizer was. There were grounds for suspicion about the objectives of the program. The confusion was that among the organizers, there were some leaders of the political parties present in the House,” the executive head of the state said.

“The organizers did not hold protests like they said to the administration. The crowd began to stage the demonstration in a different form and started chanting slogans against the government. The administration tried to control the mob, but they assaulted police personnel, snatched their weapons and even robbed a departmental store,” PM Oli added.

Two persons including a photo journalist at Avenues Television Suresh Rajak died during the violent demonstrations in Tinkune.

The protesters vandalized media houses- the Annapurna Media Network and Kantipur Television. They also set on fire the office of Annapurna Post. Glasses of windows in the buildings were broken in the incident.

They not only caused damages to the media houses and private properties, they also tried to set fire to the airport and attacked police vans and a fire engine which came to put out the fire, he said.

“All of these acts are condemnable. Stern action will be taken against those involved in the such incident no matter who they are,” the Prime Minister added.

He claimed that the former King was responsible for all the incidents.

PM Oli accused the then King Shah of violating the agreement reached after the historic decision of the Constituent Assembly.

At that time, it was agreed that the former King Shah would be allowed to live a peaceful life as a citizen, conduct business activities by exercising the legal and constitutional rights of the citizen, and provide security as the head of the state, the Prime Minister said.

It has also been agreed that he will be allowed to use the Nagarjuna Palace and the building in the Narayanhiti Palace that his mother is using.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Oli said that an investigation has already been started into those involved in the criminal activities and to identify the mastermind behind the violent protests in Tinkune.

Meanwhile, while addressing the Parliament, he warned the lawmakers of Rastriya Prajatantra Party to not engage in destroying the Constitution, reminding them they took the oath of office and secrecy from the same Constitution.

Stresing that now is the time to protect the Constitution, safeguard the rights of the people achieved througha  huge struggle and sacrifice and its successful implementation, the Prime Minister said that the entire House should be united for the same.

“We have heard that various activities are being carried out against the system, democracy and the Constitution. The entire society should be serious at this critical time,” he said.

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