Who Is Durga Prasai
Durga Prasai, born on May 5, 1971, in Terhathum, grew up in Jhapa. Because of financial struggles, he dropped out of school. Initially, he supported the Nepali Congress; however, he later joined the Maoists and sheltered fighters during the civil war. Afterwards, he moved to CPN-UML, where he held leadership roles, but the party expelled him for backing the monarchy and a Hindu state. Today, he continues to lead nationwide campaigns against federalism while managing B&C Hospital and his education ventures.
Quick Facts:
- Full Name: Durga Prasai
- Date of Birth: 5 May 1971
- Birthplace: Terhathum, Nepal
- Residence: Jhapa, Nepal
- Occupation: Businessman, Politician
- Known For: Leading campaigns for monarchy and Hindu statehood
- Political Journey: Nepali Congress → Maoists → CPN (Maoist Centre) → CPN-UML → Independent Monarchist Leader
- Business Role: Executive Director, B&C Hospital; Investor in Taksha Shila Education Foundation
- Controversies: Loan default of NPR 5.57 billion; expelled from UML in 2023
- Recent Development: In 2024, the Supreme Court allowed B&C Hospital to run MBBS classes
Early Life and Education:
Durga Prasai was born on 5 May 1971 in Terhathum, Nepal, but soon his family relocated to Jhapa. He grew up in a small household where financial struggles shaped his early life. As a result, he dropped out of school in Class 8. Later, he tried to sustain his family by working as a farmer; however, when his agriculture business collapsed and left him in debt, he turned toward politics for a new direction
Durga Prasai Political Career:
Durga Prasai was the first to support the Nepali Congress, but later crossed over to the Maoist party. He went underground and took refuge among Maoist fighters during the Nepalese Civil War. He became a member of the Maoist Centre of Prachanda after the war and transferred to CPN-UML. In 2017, he declared that his encounter with Oli and Dahal contributed to the unification of UML and Maoist Centre that resulted in the election win. But UML removed him in 2023 because he publicly supported the monarchy, Hindu statehood, and the abolition of federalism.
Durga Prasai Business Career:
Durga Prasai followed his political engagements and ventured into business at the same time. He joined B&C Hospital, Jhapa, as the executive director to make it a significant healthcare facility. He was also a shareholder in the Taksha Shila Education Foundation that supported education programs. But he was controversial as he failed to meet his debt obligations of NPR 5.57 billion borrowed by the hospital among eight banks. His business ventures achieved a lot in 2024 when the Supreme Court gave B&C Hospital the right to conduct MBBS classes.
Durga Prasai Why KP Oli & Sher Bahadur Deuba Controversies:
KP Oli:
- had dissolved Parliament twice, and this was not made constitutional by the Supreme Court.
- He was accused of major land scams and of protecting cases of corruption.
Sher Bahadur Deuba:
- He had been implicated in corruption scandals, such as the Baluwatar land and Melamchi project.
- He was criticized in terms of a weak governance system, factionalism of the party, and favoritism.
Durga Prasai Political Campaigns:
Upon quitting UML in 2023, Durga Prasai started campaigning against the federal system of Nepal. His demands included the restoration of the constitutional monarchy and a Hindu state. In different provinces, he held rallies and social demonstrations to popularize his agenda. His movement constitutes a direct attack on the 2015 Constitution and the democratic system.
“Durga Prasai Pro-Monarchy Protest Turns Violent in Kathmandu:
March 28, 2025, Durga Prasai held a pro-monarchy rally in Kathmandu, at Tinkune, and he insisted on the restoration of the monarchy and made Nepal a Hindu state. The demonstration turned into a violent confrontation with the police that resulted in injuries to at least 45 individuals, both civilians and journalists, and two deaths. The government declared a curfew in the parts that were affected, such as Baneshwor and Tinkune, and sent the police and army forces to contain the situation. More than 100 demonstrators, including the personal secretary of Prasai, have been enlisted, and Prasai himself has been put on remand for 12 days in custody. The case was a major escalation of the pro-monarchy movement in Nepal.
“Durga Prasai Jailed After Protest:
On 28 March 2025, Durga Prasai was arrested for leading a violent pro-monarchy demonstration in Kathmandu, several of which killed at least two people and injured dozens. He was charged with various crimes such as money laundering, attempted murder, homicide, and banking crime. He managed to escape arrest and was later caught in India when April 10, 2025, and extradited to Nepal through the Kakarbhitta border. The Kathmandu District Court first gave him a 12-day remand and later gave him an extension for further investigations. A total of 61 individuals were indicted in the protest, among them eight life sentences, with Prasai being one of them.
Conclusion:
The life of Durga Prasai can be described as a combination of political ambitions, business, and activism. He emerged to great heights despite initial setbacks in both the political and business arenas. His movements on behalf of the monarchy and the Hindu state have caused national controversy and violent demonstrations. His image has also been complicated by legal scandals, such as his arrest and default on loans. On the whole, Prasai continues to be a very strong and controversial figure of Nepalese politics and society.
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