POPULAR STRUGGLES AND MOVEMENTS Civics Notes Class 10th

• Nepal became a democracy in 1990. Although the king was the head of state. The real power was with elected representatives.
• King Birendra, who has accepted this transition from absolute monarchy, was killed in the mysterious massacre of a royal family in 2001 and his brother Gyanendra, the new king was not really to accept democracy.
• He dismissed the prime minister and dissolved the parliament.
• A popular movement started in Nepal in April 2006 to restore democracy.

SHORT NOTE ON S.P.A. (SEVEN PARTY ALLIANCE)

• All major political parties in the parliament formed seven party alliances and called for a 4 days strike.
• Later Maoists and other organizations joined them and people took to the streets and it was difficult for the king to suppress the movement.
• The number of protesters reached between 3-5 lacks on 21 April and they served an ultimatum to the king. The leader of the movement rejected the half-hearted concession made by the king.
• They demanded for restoration of democracy power to an all party government and a new constitution assembly.
• On 24 April 2006, the day of ultimatum, the king was forced to accept the demand.
• P.A. elected Girija Prasad Corola as the new Prime Minister and most of king powers were taken away.
• This movement came to be known as Nepal’s second movement for democracy.