Kathmandu, March 16 -- The republican and royalist forces seem to be on a collision course after pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu outfits recently took out rallies calling for the restoration of Nepal as a Hindu kingdom.

There was a big turnout of supporters on March 9 to welcome former king Gyanendra Shah back to Kathmandu at the end of his months-long tour of western Nepal. This rang alarm bells among pro-republican forces, some of which have decided to hold counter rallies in the Capital on March 28.

Its aim will be to foil the "conspiracies of the reactionary forces", according to the Socialist Front Nepal that has vowed to fight "regressive" forces and protect the republican set-up.

The front on Saturday announced the protest programme ...