KATHMANDU, March 29: A social media campaign demanding the arrest of former King Gyanendra Shah, using the hashtag #ArrestGyanendra, has gained significant traction since Saturday. Users across various platforms are calling for the former king’s immediate arrest following the escalation of a pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune, led by medical professional Durga Prasai, who is said to have a tacit support of the former king Shah.
On Facebook, Samik Badal, president of the student organization ANNFSU (affiliated with CPN-UML), questioned the Home Minister, writing: "When will you arrest the mastermind behind yesterday’s massacre? Gyanendra, who summoned the alleged commander to Nirmal Niwas a day before to orchestrate murder, looting and robbery, has also bought Facebook pages with millions of followers to glorify violence as a movement and mislead the public through soft content. When will you arrest him? Arrest the murderer of humanity, Gyanendra."
Govt to withdraw former king Gyanendra's privileges, passport o...
Similarly, another social media user Prakash BK echoed the sentiment, posting: "When will you arrest the mastermind behind yesterday’s massacre? When will you arrest Gyanendra, who plotted murder, looting, and robbery from Nirmal Niwas, manipulated social media pages to justify violence, and spread deceptive content? Arrest the murderer of humanity, Gyanendra." He, too, used the hashtag #ArrestGyanendra.
Yashir Khambho joined the campaign by questioning on Facebook when authorities would take action against former King Gyanendra for allegedly glorifying violence through Facebook pages with millions of followers and inciting unrest from Nirmal Niwas.
On X, user Ajayah RBN wrote: "If the government has the courage, let them arrest King Gyanendra Shah and prove it! Don’t just hide and spread rumors—take concrete action! #ARRESTGYANENDRA #ArrestGyanendra."
Another X user, Bikendra KM, remarked: "Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor #BalenShah has courageously issued a notice for former King #GyanendraShah to pay the fine according to his constitutional duty. Now, Prime Minister #Oli and Home Minister #Lekhak should arrest him and take action. #ArrestGyanendra."
While the demand for his arrest has gained momentum, many users have also voiced support for the former king. On social media, they have depicted him as a symbol of Nepal’s stability and national identity, opposing calls for his arrest. Using the hashtag #IamWithGyanendra, some argue that the former king could play a crucial role in addressing the country’s crisis. Supporters claim that the current system is the root cause of political instability and believe Gyanendra’s leadership is essential for Nepal’s stability.