Overview

• Tens of thousands of supporters of the former king marched through Kathmandu on May 29, chanting for the restoration of the monarchy and Hinduism as the state religion.
• Hundreds of riot police were deployed to keep pro-monarchy demonstrators and pro-republic groups apart and to prevent clashes in the capital.
• Nepal’s three largest parties, which control nearly 200 of 275 parliamentary seats, insist the 2008 abolition of the monarchy cannot be reversed.
• The pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party holds just 13 seats and falls far short of the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution.
• A similar rally in March left two people dead after clashes with police, yet royalist leaders have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are met.