Protesters Rally Demanding Immediate Release of RPP Chair Lingden, Others

Shouting slogans against the arrest of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden and other leaders including Gyanendra Shahi during Sunday’s protest, demonstrators taking part in a rally along the Maitighar-Bijuli Bazaar-Baneshwor road section have demanded their immediate release.

RPP is staging a protest in Kathmandu calling for a fair probe into the March 28 Tinkune violence, the release of two leaders arrested for the violence—Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Rabindra Mishra—and reinstatement of Nepal as a Sanatan Hindu state and constitutional monarchy. The rally is heading toward Maitighar Mandala from New Baneshwor, a prohibited area that is the seat of the Federal Parliament. 

In his remarks earlier in the day, RPP Chair Lingden had called the government not to fear them as they will be staging a peaceful and symbolic protest against what he called the "autocratic government's" bid to curtail liberties like the freedoms of expression and movement.

Police arrested Lingden and Shahi from Singhadurbar, the seat of the federal government secretariat, apparently before they could join the Maitighar-Baneshwor centric protest.  

The latest protest comes days after the fifth largest party in the parliament staged a mass gathering in Balkhu.