Kathmandu: Supporters of restoration of monarchy and the forces opposing it held massive demonstrations in a bid to disprove each other in Kathmandu on Friday. The pro-monarchy demonstrations were held along the ring road while anti-monarchy demonstrations were allowed inside the downtown of the capital city. The former was led by Rastriya Prajatantra Party, as well as Durga Prasai, a medical entrepreneur. The latter was called by the Socialist Front, an alliance of four parties—CPN (Maoist Centre) led by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN (Unified Socialist) led by former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, Mahindra Ray Yadav-led Nepal Socialist Party and the Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand.
While no incidents of clashes were reported at the demonstration site in Bhrikutimandap, clash occurred between pro-monarchy protestors and police in Tinkune, the site where pro-monarchists had assembled. Meanwhile, Kathmandu district administration has imposed curfew in Tinkune and surrounding areas citing vandalism and arson by supporters of monarchy.
In recent times, supporters of monarchy have been holding demonstrations and protest rallies across the country demanding restoration of monarchy which was abolished by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly in 2008. The House of Representatives, reinstated by king Gyanendra in 2006, had voted to abolish monarchy in December, 2007.
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