Kathmandu, Sept 12 — A leading civil society alliance in Nepal has alleged that a “reactionary conspiracy” is underway to reinstate monarchy “under military mediation,” even as political negotiations continued for a transitional government following the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
The Brihat Nagarik Andolan (BNA), a coalition of professionals and activists from diverse walks of life, issued a statement Thursday expressing alarm over the Nepal Army’s expanded role in national affairs. The army assumed charge of nationwide security operations on Tuesday after violent protests swept the country.
The group accused political and military actors of seeking to roll back republicanism. “Over the bodies of the martyrs of the Gen-Z movement, a grave reactionary conspiracy is being staged — under military mediation — to restore the monarchy and to abolish secularism, federalism and the proportional inclusive system,” BNA said in its statement, as reported by MyRepublica.
Calling such moves “completely unacceptable,” the alliance stressed that the ongoing anti-government protests were never aimed at reversing republicanism or secularism. Instead, it accused the army of “unconstitutional activism” that risked undermining the democratic gains made since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.
BNA further appealed for the success of what it termed the “Gen Z revolution” to be ensured under the guardianship of the President, whom it described as the “constitutional protector.” It demanded that any new civic government be firmly rooted in the Constitution, dedicated to fighting corruption and disorder, and ensure “there will be no place for counter-revolutionaries within it.”
The sharp warning came against the backdrop of rising unrest. According to Nepal’s Ministry of Health, the death toll from police action during demonstrations on Monday and Tuesday has climbed to 34. Protesters, largely led by young people, had poured into the streets against corruption and a government ban on social media.
Oli resigned on Tuesday, hours after hundreds of agitators stormed his office, holding him responsible for the deaths of at least 19 demonstrators during Monday’s clashes. Though the government lifted the social media ban later that night, unrest has persisted.
President Ram Chandra Paudel has accepted Oli’s resignation but said the outgoing cabinet would continue in a caretaker role until a new Council of Ministers is formed. Political leaders remain locked in talks over the contours of a transitional government, even as civil society cautions against attempts to exploit the crisis to revive monarchy.
