Nepal PM, President Quit Amid Gen Z Anti-Corruption Revolt
21 dead, 100 injured; Kathmandu under siege as Army likely to step in
- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigns after violent anti-corruption protests kill 21, injure 100.
- President Ram Chandra Paudel also steps down amid mounting unrest.
- Protesters storm Parliament, PM and President’s residences, and key government offices.
- Army deployment raises fears of a possible military takeover.
GG News Bureau
Kathmandu, 9th Sept: Nepal was plunged into political turmoil Tuesday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paudel resigned after two days of violent anti-corruption protests, led largely by young “Gen Z” demonstrators. The agitation, triggered by a controversial social media ban, spiralled into nationwide violence that has so far claimed 21 lives and left around 100 injured.
In his resignation letter, Mr Oli, 73, said: “In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution.” Visuals showed him leaving office in a military helicopter shortly after submitting his resignation.
Protesters, however, were not appeased by his exit alone. Hours before the announcement, angry crowds had stormed Parliament, the Singha Durbar government complex, and even set fire to the private residences of both Mr Oli and President Paudel. The capital resembled a war zone, with burning vehicles, black smoke, and pitched street battles between youth protesters and security forces.
The protests began 36 hours earlier after the Oli government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. Though the ban was later lifted, it only intensified public anger against alleged corruption, nepotism, and economic mismanagement. Placards bearing slogans like “Stop corruption, not social media” and “Shut down corruption, not freedom” were seen across Kathmandu. Online, hashtags such as #NepoBabies and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal went viral.
The chaos forced the deployment of the Nepal Army, with local reports suggesting that senior government officials were being evacuated from Kathmandu. Tribhuvan International Airport was effectively shut down after thick smoke reduced visibility, leading Air India to cancel flights and IndiGo to divert services to Lucknow.
The Indian government issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Nepal and for those already in the country to remain indoors until the situation stabilises.
Observers warn that the resignation of Nepal’s top leadership could open the door to an interim military-backed administration, echoing recent regional upheavals. Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024 saw mass anti-corruption movements topple governments, with the military stepping in to maintain order.
There is even speculation in Kathmandu’s political circles that the turmoil could revive calls for a return of the monarchy, abolished in 2008 after 239 years.
For now, Nepal’s future remains uncertain, with the youth-led movement showing no signs of slowing down and the streets of Kathmandu still under siege.
