Low turnout plagues RSP demonstration in Pokhara despite nationwide call

Pokhara, October 23 — Following the arrest of Rabi Lamichhane, leaders and activists of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are currently staging demonstrations centered in Pokhara. Despite a nationwide call for supporters to gather, the turnout for the RSP demonstration has been underwhelming.

The party had anticipated tens of thousands of activists would join the protests daily, but according to RSP leaders, the local populace has not been supportive. They have been urging the citizens of Pokhara to take to the streets for demonstrations, but the response has not matched their expectations.

In light of this lack of participation, RSP leaders have begun door-to-door campaigns to rally support. On Tuesday, central committee members Dr. Toshima Karki and Ramesh Prasai visited Sarangkot, where they met with local leaders and supporters to encourage participation in the movement.

Central committee member Hari Dhakal also spent Tuesday canvassing the Birauta area, appealing to residents to join the protests as they would during election campaigning. Activists and supporters from other districts have joined the demonstration in Pokhara, with RSP dispatching ten teams for door-to-door outreach on Tuesday. Spokesperson Manish Jha conducted canvassing in the Amar Singh area.

Following these efforts, Jha noted an increase in participation at Tuesday's demonstration, stating, "We saw some additional turnout on Tuesday. Many more will come on Wednesday." He indicated that they were continuing door-to-door efforts, emphasizing, “This is not just about releasing my leader or Rabi Lamichhane. This is a movement for addressing the issue of NPR 87 billion embezzled in cooperative fraud."

Jha disagrees with the notion that the locals are not supportive of the protests, suggesting that it is part of an opposition strategy to downplay participation. He pointed out that the majority of attendees on Tuesday were locals, questioning the media narratives that claim otherwise.

He criticized the perceived political vendetta behind the treatment of various individuals, stating, "Is it political retribution to arrest one director of Gorkha Media while appointing another as a presidential advisor? We must support the law, but it must also be equitable." RSP continues to seek the support of Pokhara residents, persistently demonstrating in various public spaces each day.