question_answer

Write in brief about the movement for democracy in Nepal.

Answer:

(i) Nepal movement took place in April 2006.

(ii) The movement was aimed at restoring democracy.

(iii) Nepalese King Birendra had accepted the constitutional monarchy.

(iv) He was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in 2001.

(v) King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, was not prepared to accept democratic rule.

(vi) In February 2005, the King dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected parliament.

(vii) The movement of April 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the King.

(viii) All the major political parties in the parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a four-day strike in Kathmandu.

(ix) This strike turned into an indefinite strike in which Maoist insurgents and various other organisations joined hands.

(x) The number of protesters reached between three to five lakhs.

(xi) They stuck to their demands for restoration of parliament.

(xii) On 24th April, the King was forced to concede to their demands. The SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the new Prime Minister of the interim government.

This struggle came to be known as Nepal's second movement for democracy.