KATHMANDU: The royalist movement, which had been focused primarily in Kathmandu, is now set to expand across all 77 districts of Nepal.
Nawaraj Subedi, Chairperson of the Joint People’s Movement Committee, announced on Wednesday evening that protests would continue in municipalities within the capital while simultaneously launching district-level programs nationwide.
According to Subedi, a meeting of 45 parties, groups, and campaigns affiliated with the committee reviewed the recent week-long movement and discussed future strategies. Thanking the public for their enthusiastic participation, he stated that mass protests, sit-ins, and public demonstrations would now be organized in major cities across the country.
To make the movement more effective, district-level committees will be formed and mobilized with active youth groups.
Earlier on Wednesday, a strategy meeting had been called at Navadurga Party Palace in Dhumbarahi to discuss the way forward for reinstating the monarchy. However, the meeting faced disruption after Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden did not attend, citing parliamentary obligations. As senior leader Kamal Thapa was about to speak, young royalists began shouting, forcing organizers to abruptly end the session.
The event, intended only for leaders of the 45 affiliated groups, was interrupted by large numbers of protestors entering the hall, demanding action over speeches. Media personnel were asked to leave the room for internal discussion, but many continued recording, leading to further disorder.
Despite efforts by religious leader Shreenivas to restore calm, the shouting persisted. Subedi eventually issued a unilateral statement in the evening announcing the district-level expansion of the movement. It remains unclear whether this new plan has the full backing of major parties like the RPP.
A royalist activist close to Subedi told Khabarhub that the incident was not a clash, but a result of a closed meeting being held in an open party venue rather than a private room.
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