Question

Assertion (A): In April 2006, there were massive countrywide pro-democracy protests in Nepal.
Reason (R): In 2002, the king abolished the parliament and dismissed the government.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

To establish the logical link in Assertion-Reason questions, read the assertion, add “because” or “since”, and then read the reason. Here: “There were massive pro-democracy protests in 2006 because the King had abolished the parliament and dismissed the government in 2002.” The sentence makes absolute logical and historical sense.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Evaluating the Assertion (A):
In April 2006, Nepal witnessed the climax of the historic “Second People's Movement” (Loktantra Andolan). Millions of citizens took to the streets in coordinated, massive, countrywide protests demanding the restoration of parliamentary democracy, constitutional constraints on the monarchy, and a sovereign constituent assembly. Thus, Assertion (A) is True.

Step 2: Evaluating the Reason (R):
In October 2002, following a period of political instability, King Gyanendra dismissed the elected government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and postponed parliamentary elections indefinitely. He subsequently assumed total executive control, culminating in February 2005 when he dismissed the entire parliament. Thus, Reason (R) is True.

Step 3: Assessing the Logical Connection:
The systematic abolition of democratic institutions by King Gyanendra between 2002 and 2005 consolidated autocratic power under the palace. This complete stripping of democratic representation forced the major political parties to form the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), which allied with the Maoists to launch the countrywide protests in April 2006. Therefore, the actions of the King in 2002 (R) directly caused and serve as the correct explanation for the historic protests of 2006 (A).