A few days ago, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had announced plans to breach the restricted zone near the federal parliament, calling for a protest on Sunday to demand the reinstatement of the monarchy and the release of its detained leaders.
However, the protest failed to gather significant mass support. While the turnout on the streets was minimal, RPP lawmakers managed to stage a symbolic protest inside Singhadurbar, the federal government’s administrative complex. After a meeting at the party’s Parliamentary Party Office, they displayed handwritten pamphlets bearing various slogans.
Police detained RPP Chairperson Rajendra Lingden, Vice-chairperson Buddhiman Tamang, and Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi from inside Singhadurbar. All three were released later in the evening.
Anticipating unrest following the party’s announcement to enter restricted areas, authorities had tightened security in Kathmandu. A large number of security personnel were deployed around designated restricted zones, including the area surrounding New Baneshwar.
Traffic in Kathmandu was severely disrupted after police barred vehicle movement in and around New Baneshwar. However, once the protest failed to gain traction, normal traffic resumed. The ongoing teachers’ protest, now in its second week, further exacerbated the traffic chaos.
Last week, during an executive committee meeting, Party Chair Lingden accused the government of curbing citizens’ fundamental rights by arbitrarily declaring areas as off-limits. “We are being pushed into a corner. That’s why we’ve decided to protest in restricted zones,” he said.
The RPP has also vowed to launch both legal and political campaigns demanding the unconditional release of party leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana, who were arrested for allegedly inciting deadly violence on March 28. That incident claimed two lives and left over 100 injured, as arson and vandalism broke out in different parts of the capital.
In response to RPP’s threat to breach restricted areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a stern warning on Saturday night. “Legal action will be taken against anyone violating the law or inciting public disorder,” the ministry stated, adding that any activity promoting anarchy or undermining the constitution would not be tolerated. The ministry also urged the public to refrain from any “anarchic, provocative or illegal acts” that could lead to violence.
The government has declared the area surrounding the federal parliament in New Baneshwar—and several other locations across Kathmandu—as restricted zones.
Earlier, on April 8, RPP staged a protest assembly in Balkhu, a site designated by the government, reiterating its demand for a constitutional monarchy and the declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state.
