Taja Samachar!!

KATHMANDU, NEPAL — Nearly two decades after Nepal cast off its monarchy and declared itself a federal republic, the country is once again in turmoil.

Protests and riots rocked Kathmandu in early September after the government banned 26 social media platforms for what authorities said was a failure to comply with registration requirements. Those riots, though in part over concerns about freedom of expression, were also a show of anger over government corruption and dissatisfaction with the ruling class. So far, at least 73 people have died from injuries sustained during the unrest.

Many protesters were simply angry at the current administration — and one result of the protests was the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. But many sought more drastic change: a return to the monarchy and the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion.

It’s not the first time public resentment has spilled over. In March and again on May 29 — Nepal’s Republic Day — thousands took to the streets, calling for the return of the king.

The movements have drawn from different crowds and come with different demands, but they point to a deepening frustration with Nepal’s political order, says Chandra Dev Bhatta, a political analyst. What people are asking for, he says, is a change in the country’s system and reforms.