Nepal News Roundup: March 2025

In a dramatic political development, Rabi Lamichhane has officially resumed his role as the President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP) after stepping down due to legal challenges. The first central committee meeting unanimously decided to reinstate Lamichhane in his leadership position. Former Acting President Dol Prasad Aryal expressed gratitude to party members for their support.

Addressing cadres at the party headquarters, Lamichhane urged for a peaceful campaign to address public dissatisfaction. "We must be ready to address the anger among the people. Nothing will be achieved by insults or hostility. The peaceful campaign must not be allowed to die," he stated passionately. With his return, Lamichhane is set to redefine RSWP's political course.

The curfew imposed in the Tinkune area following violent royalist protests has been officially lifted. On Friday, the royalist demonstration spiraled into chaos, leading to the tragic deaths of two individuals, including journalist Suresh Rajak. Protesters vandalized public and private properties, set vehicles ablaze, and looted malls.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak visited the Tinkune-Koteshwor region to assess the damage. Despite prior intelligence warning of possible violence, security forces were unprepared for the escalation. Reports indicate that expired tear gas from 2008 was used during the clashes, sparking public outrage.

Authorities have arrested 17 individuals, including key figures of the royalist movement: Rabindra Mishra, Dhawal Shamsher Rana, Safford Limbu, Santosh Tamang, and Swagat Nepal. A tragic incident unfolded as journalist Suresh Rajak, 33, was burnt to death while covering the protests.

Protesters set fire to 14 locations, including hospitals, media houses, and government offices. Over 110 individuals were injured. Durga Prasai was declared the leader of the 'People's Movement for Monarchy' after a meeting with former King Gyanendra Shah.

Hitendra Dev Shakya officially assumed office as the new Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), taking over from Kulman Ghising following a Cabinet decision. Shakya vowed to end industrial load shedding within two weeks, even if it means importing electricity from India.

"Reliable electricity, not just no load shedding, is our goal," he emphasized. With 33 years of experience in energy transmission and distribution, Shakya is determined to lead Nepal towards an electrically stable future. The government officially announced the removal of Kulman Ghising, who had been appointed for a second term in 2078 BS.

Sichuan Airlines commenced regular commercial charter flights from Chengdu to Pokhara. A narrow-body aircraft carrying 128 Chinese passengers landed at Pokhara International Airport, marking a major milestone. The flight took off for Chengdu later, carrying 126 Nepali passengers.

Chinese Ambassador Chen Song lauded this as a major step in fostering tourism and economic ties. For the next 10 weeks, Sichuan Airlines plans to bring 1,250 tourists from Sichuan Province to Pokhara. With the Nepal-China diplomatic relationship reaching 70 years in 2025, this development aligns with the 'Visit Nepal 2025' campaign.

The issuance of climbing permits for the spring season has officially begun! So far, 58 climbers (18 women & 40 men) from 24 countries have received permission to scale Nepal's majestic peaks, including Annapurna-1. China leads with 20 mountaineers, followed by adventurers from Russia, Germany, the UK, and other nations.

The Everest Pollution Control Committee has deployed its legendary 'Icefall Doctors' to secure the treacherous routes. The Mountaineering Association of Nepal has dispatched an elite Sherpa team to fix ropes from Camp 2 to the summit of Mount Everest.

The rate of migration in Nepal is on the rise, with 32% of citizens from the hills and 28.9% from the Terai leaving their native places. International migration has doubled over two decades, rising from 3.3% in 2058 BS to 7.5% in 2078 BS. Shockingly, 75.8% of Nepalese working abroad are aged 15-34 years.

The Population Projection of Nepal 2021-2051 estimates that by 2108 BS, Nepal's population will reach 33 million. Interestingly, the number of people returning to Nepal is expected to double from 9,114 in 2078 BS to 18,353 in 2010 BS.

The Citizen Investment Fund (CIF) is gearing up to increase investments in government-prioritized and nation-building projects. Executive Director Parbat Kumar Karki highlighted efforts to diversify investments into manufacturing, agriculture, industry, hospitality, and tourism.

The fund, which started with savings of Rs 24.4 million in 2047 BS, now boasts a paid-up capital of Rs 6.48 billion and has successfully invested Rs 264 billion in various sectors. Chairman Prof. Dr. Surya Bahadur Thapa announced that CIF is set to manage Rs 273.72 billion by mobilizing small capital.