Nepal government has issued stern warning against royalist groups that have decided to intensify their protest aimed at reinstating the Hindu kingdom.

Earlier this month, several right-wing forces supporting the revival of monarchy and the Hindu state coalesced around the Joint People’s Movement Committee, led by the Panchayat-era leader Nabaraj Subedi, and announced a “decisive agitation” starting on May 29.

Amid this, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung on Thursday said that while the government has generously allowed the monarchists to express their views against the constitution and the federal democratic republic, it will not be lenient forever.

The government can impose restrictions on their movement, Gurung said, while announcing the Cabinet’s recent decisions. “The government will not always passively watch the activities of monarchists,” he said. “It may impose restrictions if necessary.”

Gurung added that the government’s permission to royalist groups to hold gatherings and express their views should not be taken as “our weakness or cowardice.”

“Neither is it that we are afraid,” Gurung, also the government spokesperson, said. “If such activities continue, the government will not always remain silent. There will be a response depending on the nature of the activities.”

The Subedi-led committee and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party will lead the upcoming royalist movement beginning next week.

Subedi has also written a letter to Rastriya Swatantra Party seeking its support to their upcoming movement but RSP has declined to join it.

A senior RPP leader told the Post that in view of the upcoming movement, former king Gyanendra Shah met with four leaders over lunch on Thursday at Hotel Soaltee. Those invitees were chairman of the RPP Rajendra Lingden, chairman of the RPP-Nepal Kamal Thapa, Subedi and chief of Rastriya Shakti Nepal, Keshar Bahadur Bista.

Earlier too, the former king had invited a few pro-monarchy leaders and held discussion over several aspects of the movement that is getting traction of late.

A RPP leader said the lunch meeting revolved around preparations for the upcoming protest and national and international scenarios.

Ahead of the demonstrations, the government has already stepped up its surveillance and intelligence gathering, said a senior Home Ministry official.

Meanwhile, some pro-monarchy leaders including Durga Prasai are still in police custody facing different charges following the royalist riots in Tinkune on March 28.

In this context, Gurung on Thursday stated that though the government has not yet imposed any bans on pro-monarchy activities, the constitution does provide it the authority to do so.

“Commenting on and criticising the republic is permitted,” Gurung said. “But the principles enshrined in the current constitution—such as federal democratic republicanism within a multiparty competitive governance system, the separation of powers, secularism, a proportional and inclusive system, periodic elections, adult suffrage, and the guarantee of human rights—are unchangeable.”