Kathmandu: Nepal’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday as President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced their resignations following a second consecutive day of massive anti-corruption protests led by young demonstrators calling themselves the “Gen Z” movement.
The unrest, which has claimed at least 19 lives and injured over 300 people, has prompted speculation that the Nepalese Army may assume control of the country, with Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel expected to address the nation shortly.
Protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s Office, vandalised the residences of senior political leaders, and set fire to the Supreme Court and Parliament buildings. Demonstrators shouted slogans such as “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (“KP thief, leave the country”) and “Take Action Against Corrupt Leaders.” Oli’s residence in Bhaktapur was torched, though he remained at the official residence in Baluwatar.
Earlier in the day, Oli had called for an all-party meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the escalating crisis, stating that dialogue was the only way forward. His resignation, however, came just hours later as protests intensified across the country despite curfews and the government’s late-night decision to restore access to social media platforms.
A Student-Led Uprising
The demonstrations, led largely by students, spread across Kathmandu—including Kalanki, Kalimati, Tahachal, and Baneshwor—as well as into Lalitpur district. Protesters defied bans on public gatherings, chanting “Don’t kill students,” burning tyres, and blocking major roads. In Sunakothi, they hurled stones at the home of Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, who had overseen the widely criticised ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook and X.
Residences of former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Sher Bahadur Deuba were also attacked.
The Gen Z movement has used platforms such as Reddit and Instagram to highlight what they describe as the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, accusing leaders of funding such displays through corruption. Many saw the social media ban as an attempt to stifle dissent and silence whistleblowers.
Social Media and Anger on the Streets
The government’s decision to block unregistered social media sites on Friday triggered immediate backlash. By Monday night, officials restored access, hoping to calm tensions, but the reversal did little to quell public anger.
With both the presidency and prime ministership now vacant, and the military preparing to intervene, Nepal faces one of its gravest political crises since the end of the monarchy.
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