During the federal parliament’s rather raucous session on Sunday, some opposition lawmakers brought up the issue of the pro-monarchy protests and the government’s reaction to them. One interesting point they raised was that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil was being increasingly ‘uncivil’ in dealing with his critics. They have a point. Whenever PM Oli addresses any criticism levelled against him or his government, rather than directly address the concern, he tends to question the credentials of the critics to question him or, worse, to mock them. The prime minister does not seem to realise that the way he dismisses criticism out of hand, or tries to sidestep vital questions by digging into his rich arsenal of aphorisms, is not going down well with the people. The government’s failure to address vital public concerns makes matters worse. Where once youngsters used to shout, “We love you, KP ba!”, many now urge him to leave the country. Oli's attempt to cover up the failings of his government with elaborate words is backfiring, big-time. Yet the prime minister and his hangers-on seem to be blissfully unaware of rising public anger against the coalition government—and of the old leaders who have monopolised power for generations.

Even in the lead up to Friday’s protests, Oli had been openly taunting the monarchists. It was curious to see the country’s prime minister try to repeatedly demean the monarchists and make them the butt of his jokes. As prime minister, Oli should look to silence his critics through service delivery and addressing public concerns. Needlessly badmouthing his political opponents is a losing strategy. At a time when the country is witnessing political ructions, the head of the government should be trying to calm things down. Instead, Oli rather seems to relish further fanning public discontent. Introspection is clearly not Oli’s forte. Yet by refusing to change his acerbic ways at a time when the situation calls for a more diplomatic touch, Oli risks further polarising the country, and making it more ungovernable.

Even Friday’s protests showed that the monarchists have only limited support: While around 5,000 turned up for their rally at Tinkune, the rally of the pro-republic Socialist Front attracted a crowd of around 35,000. Even the pro-monarchy rallies before that have seen limited participation. It is the knee-jerk reaction of the likes of PM Oli and, to a lesser extent, CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, which has added to the weight of these pro-monarchy gatherings. Why would the pro-republican forces, who between them garner over 90 percent seats in the federal legislature, be so unnerved by gatherings of a few thousand pro-monarchy protests, people are asking?

In fact, Oli’s repeated barbs at the monarchists betray a deep sense of inferiority. No wonder the royalists are enthused. It is still not too late. When it comes to taking action against those responsible for Friday’s deaths and destruction, Oli can let the state machinery do its job. Why does the prime minister need to say anything about that? His focus should rather be on taking all republican forces in Parliament into confidence and working out a collective way to respond to growing public discontent with the federal republic.