KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has strongly condemned the arrest of its chair Rajendra Lingden and senior leaders from within the Singha Durbar premises during a protest on Sunday.
An emergency meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee held after the arrests denounced the government’s actions.
According to the party’s publicity chief Mohan Kumar Shrestha, Lingden, Vice Chair Buddhi Man Tamang, and spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi were detained by authorities while walking to a pre-scheduled protest venue at Bijuli Bazaar from the RPP’s parliamentary office.
Shrestha further stated that the president of the party’s youth wing, Kailash Katuwal, vice president Saroj Kshetri, and Amar Aryal, president of the RPP’s marginalized upliftment organization, were also arrested.
Describing the move as undemocratic and authoritarian, Shrestha said, “The government’s conduct reflects a despotic intent to suppress opposition voices.”
He demanded the immediate release of all arrested leaders and criticized the arrest as a violation of constitutional rights, including freedom of movement, political activity, and expression.
The party has warned of more forceful protests if such obstacles to exercising constitutional rights continue.
Shrestha also affirmed that the RPP remains committed to its political agenda, including the reinstatement of the monarchy and Hindu state, the abolition of federalism, and advocacy on a range of socio-political and livelihood issues.
The RPP also demanded a judicial inquiry into the March 28 Tinkune incident and called for the release of senior vice chair Rabindra Mishra, general secretary Dr. Dhawal Shamsher Rana, and other detained leaders and activists.
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