Parallel rallies organised by supporters and opponents of the republic in Kathmandu on Thursday passed largely peacefully, despite security agencies fearing potential clashes and unrest.

The Kathmandu district administration had scheduled separate time slots and venues to avoid confrontation. From the morning until 2 pm, the CPN-UML was allowed to hold its Republic Mahotsav, while anti-republican groups were designated the Ratnapark area for their demonstration.

While the UML marked Republic Day with a celebratory event, pro-royalist and Hindu factions announced an indefinite protest movement starting Thursday.

Police were deployed in large numbers around the Ratna Park area to prevent any clashes between the UML supporters and royalists led by the “unified people's joint movement committee”. A senior security official told the Post that altogether 3,500 security personnel, both in uniform and plain clothes, were deployed on Thursday.

“We have vivid memories of the March 28 vandalism,” the official said, “so we planned accordingly. Also, both sides refrained from provoking each other, which also helped to maintain law and order.”

Both sides concluded their demonstrations within the allotted time, said SSP Ramesh Thapa, who is also the Nepal Police spokesperson.

Security forces including the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force set up a barricade at the Ratnapark junction so that the rival sides would not come face-to-face.

“Our strategy was largely successful in preventing confrontation,” added Thapa.

However leaders of royalist groups have accused the security agencies of preventing their supporters from entering Kathmandu. They claimed that hundreds of their supporters were stopped at various entry points to the Valley.

RPP spokesman Mohan Kumar Shrestha stated that supporters travelling via Naubise were being stopped and subjected to unwarranted checks, with authorities hindering their movement. “I urge the administration to act responsibly and ensure a peaceful environment,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Today's message is clear,” Shrestha told the Post, “We can easily bring 100,000 people to Kathmandu.” He claimed that over 30,000 people had joined Thursday's rally calling for the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy. But a senior home ministry official told the Post that, based on their initial estimate, no more than 7,000 protesters had joined the royalist rally.

“That is not true. Over 15,000 RPP supporters alone had joined the rally,” said Shrestha, adding, “A similar number of protesters were brought by different groups that support the same agenda.”

On Friday, the “unified people's joint struggle committee” led by veteran royalist Nawaraj Subedi is scheduled to hold a demonstration in Maitighar.

Encouraged by the number of participants, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden said that Thursday's protests could be seen as a “referendum”, pointing to the low turnout at UML's “Republic Mahotsav.”

After the RPP and other forces announced that they would unite to protest against the republic, he (Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli) also called on pro-republic supporters to come out onto the streets," said Lingden, mocking the UML's demonstration.

"Just like we called our supporters from across the country, they did the same. Isn’t it now clear what kind of turnout the pro-republic side had, even with the use of state power?"

Lingden claimed that public turnout on the very first day of the movement showed that the public supports the monarchy. "Today, a kind of referendum has taken place. It has been proven that the people are in favor of the monarchy," he said.

Lingden, who has vowed that the movement will not stop until the republic is abolished, described Thursday’s demonstration as a "casting." Informing that those who came to the Capital from various districts are here to stay for an extended period, Lingden also appealed to the residents of Kathmandu for their support.

"This movement does not belong to just one party. it is the first movement carried out by the Nepali people for Nepal," he said.

Addressing the Ratnapark rally, Kamal Thapa, the chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, another royalist party, said that a situation may arise where the current constitution will have to be torn apart and a new one drafted from the streets.

"A day may come when the constitution will be torn on the streets and a new one issued. Therefore, I urge everyone to come to an understanding in time."

He also stated that the movement would continue. Claiming that more people are still arriving from villages across the country, he said the protests will intensify starting Friday. Thapa also urged Kathmandu residents to join their demonstration.