Celebrating Lokatantra Diwas

The Loktantra Diwas (Democracy Day) was celebrated in Nepal on April 24 (Baishakh 11). Deposed King Gyanendra, on this day, in 2006, had reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives as a result of a 19-day-long people’s movement popularly known as Janaandolan II. The Maoists came to the political mainstream by abanding the politis of violence through the successful conclusion of the Peoples’ Movement II.

This was a movement against the royal coup staged by King Gyanendra in February 19, 2005 that eventually resulted in the abolition of the 240-year-long monarchy in the country. The historic day evantually paved the way for a federal democratic republic Nepal.

On February 1, 2005: King Gyanendra dismissed the cabinet led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and took all executive powers into his hand. On November 22, 2005: The seven Parties’ Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) inked a twelve-point agreement in New Delhi to wage a unified mass movement against the monarchy.