Nepal’s main opposition party The Nepalese Congress on Monday accused the K P Sharma Oli Government of tacitly supporting pro-monarchy rallies that have recently surfaced in different parts of the country, demanding the re-establishment of the constitutional monarchy and the re-establishment of the country as a Hindu state.
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, addressing a massive anti-government demonstration in Hetauda, central Nepal, claimed that “Prime Minister Oli seems to have been standing behind those who are staging demonstrations.” “Otherwise how come they are taking to the streets freely at the moment?” Deuba asked.
Former Prime Minister Deuba, however has ruled out the possibility of a revival of the monarchy at present. “There should not be any illusion at all about reinstatement of monarchy in the country,” he said.
Deuaba pointed to recent demonstrations by ex-King Gyanendra loyalists in various parts of the country, including the capital city of Kathmandu, calling on the government to declare Nepal a Hindu state and restore the monarchy. After the success of the 2006 People’s Movement, which saw the abolition of the monarchy, Nepal was declared a secular state in 2008.
The president of the NC has come down heavily on the government of Oli for its attempts to impose a one-party totalitarian rule in the country. He blamed the government for not working to control growing cases of rape and corruption. “The government is indulged in corruption even in course of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
On Monday, the NC demonstrated against the Oli Government in all 77 districts of the country as part of its anti-government campaign.