Durga Prasain under house arrest
Security forces have put Durga Prasain, a medical entrepreneur turned monarchist, under house arrest to prevent him from leading the protests.
In a show of strength, Prasain on Thursday organized a mass meeting in Balkhu.
In the meantime, supporters of Prasain clashed with security personnel while they were attempting to march toward Singhadurbar to press for the restoration of monarchy and Nepal as a Hindu state.
This came after clashes between the supporters of Yuwa Sangh, the youth wing of the CPN-UML, and Prasain’s supporters.
Immediately after Prasain’s address in Balkhu where he told supporters to picket Singhadurbar and thrash leaders of major political leaders, police fired teargas canisters and water cannons at the supporters marching toward Singhadurbar, resulting in minor injuries on both sides.
Prasain has been courting controversy for making objectionable comments in violation of the law of the land.
Recently, he organized a program by playing Nepal’s monarchy-era national anthem and undermining the republican anthem, apparently in violation of the Constitution of Nepal 2015.
Section 15 of the Procedure for Use of the National Flag and National Anthem (First Amendment), 2076 has prohibited the use of the national anthem in an insulting and inappropriate manner, whereas Section 17 of the procedure has assigned the responsibility of monitoring and regulating it to the Chief District Officer.
Also, Prasain has made remarks targeting a specific community. In many interviews, he has urged people to join his campaign, promising that individual bank loans up to Rs 2m will be written off on the night the republican order becomes history.
Durga Prasai provokes crowd for violence
Supporters of Durga Prasai, a medical entrepreneur turned monarchist, clashed with Nepal Police personnel at Balkhu on Thursday while they were attempting to march toward Singhadurbar to press for the restoration of monarchy and Nepal as a Hindu state.
This came after clashes between the supporters of Yuwa Sangh, the youth wing of the CPN-UML, and Prasain’s supporters.
Immediately after Prasai’s address in Balkhu where he told supporters to picket Singhadurbar and thrash leaders of major political leaders, police fired teargas canisters and water cannons at the supporters marching toward Singhadurbar, resulting in minor injuries on both sides.
Political observers say Prasai’s recent statements and activities are in clear violation of the Constitution and laws. He is trying to fulfill vested interests by inciting violence in the valley but we are exercising restraint, said a senior Nepal Police officer: We are closely monitoring the activities of his group.
At Tinkune, youth and students staged a demonstration against the government and ‘anarchists’.
Prasai has been courting controversy for making objectionable comments in violation of the law of the land.
Recently, he organized a program by playing Nepal’s monarchy-era national anthem and undermining the republican anthem, apparently in violation of the Constitution of Nepal 2015.
Section 15 of the Procedure for Use of the National Flag and National Anthem (First Amendment), 2076 has prohibited the use of the national anthem in an insulting and inappropriate manner, whereas Section 17 of the procedure has assigned the responsibility of monitoring and regulating it to the Chief District Officer.
Also, Prasai has made remarks targeting a specific community. In many interviews, he has urged people to join his campaign, promising that individual bank loans up to Rs 2m will be written off on the night the republican order becomes history.
Tens of thousands of protesters demanding a restoration of Nepal's monarchy clash with police
Riot police used batons and tear gas to halt tens of thousands of supporters of Nepal’s former king who attempted to march to the center of the capital on Thursday to demand the restoration of the monarchy and the nation's former status as a Hindu state.
The protesters, waving the national flag and chanting slogans supporting former King Gyanendra, gathered on the edge of Kathmandu and attempted to move toward the center of the city. Riot police blocked them, beating them with bamboo batons and firing tear gas and a water cannon. There were minor injuries on both sides.
Authorities had banned protests in key areas of the city prior to the rally.
“We love our king and country more than our lives. Bring back the monarchy. Abolish the republic,” the crowd chanted.
Supporters of the former king came to Kathmandu from all over the country to demand the return of the monarchy that was abolished in 2008. They accused the government and political parties of corruption and failed governance.
Weeks of street protests in 2006 forced then-King Gyanendra to abandon his authoritarian rule and introduce democracy.
Two years later, a newly elected parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and declared Nepal a republic with a president as head of state.
Since then, Gyanendra has been living as a private citizen with no power or state protection. He still has some support among the people but little chance of returning to power.
The demonstrators also demanded that Nepal be turned back into a Hindu state. The Himalayan nation was declared a secular state in 2007 by an interim constitution. AP
Police lob teargas shells at Durga Prasain group in Balkhu
Police lobbed teargas canisters at the supporters of controversial businessman Durga Prasain at Balkhu.
After Prasain addressed the program organized at Balkhu, the demonstrators headed towards Thapathali to picket Singha Durbar. Police, however, blocked them by firing teargas.
While addressing the program, Prasain had said that they would not enter the city to gherao the Singha Durbar.
Police fired teargas shells at the demonstrators while they were heading towards Kalimati from Balkhu.
Police also fired a water cannon to take the situation under control.
The situation turned tense after the protestors hurled stones at the security personnel.
