The government has begun talks with Durga Prasain’s Citizen and Government Protection Campaign after the group announced a nationwide protest from November 23. The first round of talks held at the Ministry of Home Affairs focussed on the campaign’s 27-point demand, including abolition of the constitution, restoration of monarchy, and reforms in the banking sector.

The talks come as the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, formed to hold snap parliamentary elections after the Gen Z protests in September, seeks to engage with various agitating groups that could pose a threat to the election process. Prasain is a self-proclaimed monarchist, who was previously associated with the CPN (Maoist Centre) and later to the CPN-UML.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal met with the campaign’s representatives for the first round of talks on Wednesday.

“Since around Rs34 kharba (Rs3.4 trillion) in the banking sector that is being used by the bank operators and the major business houses, is at risk, all banks and financial institutions should be nationalised at least once so the amount can be recovered and both the banks and entrepreneurs can be relieved,” reads one of the demands of the campaign.

The campaign has also urged the government to immediately remove about 600,000 individuals from the banks’ blacklists.

Campaign spokesman Madhav Kalpit said Wednesday’s discussion was cordial and the next round of talks would be held in the presence of the prime minister. Prasain was not present at the meeting.

“The talks were positive. The meeting lasted three hours. We presented our 27-point demand,” Kalpit said. He told the media that they have agreed to sit for the second round soon and Prime Minister Karki and campaign coordinator Prasain will attend.

The campaign’s delegation included organisation department chief Tijeendra Prasad Rayamajhi, spokesman Kalpit, and Devi Prasad Sangraula, among others.

Prasain had announced a few days ago that his ‘nationwide movement’ would start on November 23 in partnership with the Nepali Congress (BP), a small breakaway faction of the Nepali Congress.

Prasain has been making provocative statements against Prime Minister Karki, Home Minister Aryal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, and Gen Z leader Sudan Gurung, among others.

Earlier, in March, Prasain organised a pro-monarchy protest rally in Kathmandu where at least two people were killed and several private and government property were vandalised. This history has alerted the government and the security agencies to his fresh call for agitation.

Delegates of the campaign said they were pleased that the government had, for the first time, shown willingness to listen to their concerns, said Ram Bahadur Rawal, a press coordinator for Prime Minister Karki, who also attended the meeting.

During Wednesday’s talks, the campaign urged the government to address at least a few of the 27 demands to create a more conducive environment for dialogue. However, the government urged the campaign to take part in the March 5 elections and gain legitimacy through the democratic process.

“The government is not in a position to address some of their demands,” a source at the Home Ministry told the Post.

Meanwhile, the campaign has said although the first round of talks with the government was positive, it will continue with its planned protest unless the government creates an environment to address their demands.

The government, however, points out that Prasain is currently out on bail after being charged in several criminal cases and could be rearrested if his future actions are deemed non-political. Nevertheless, authorities also believe that Prasain’s influence has diminished compared to the past.

According to a Home Ministry source, Prasain no longer has the backing from royalist groups and parties that he had during the pro-monarchy rally on March 28.

Likewise, officials also believe Prasain, despite his public claims, does not have backing from India.

Nevertheless, the government will continue efforts to resolve issues through talks with Prasain’s group while maintaining tight security, said the Home Ministry source requesting anonymity.