PM's Resignation in Nepal as 'Gen Z' Protests Escalate

In a stunning and unprecedented political turn, Nepal's Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, has resigned from his post, yielding to an escalating wave of anti-corruption protests that have paralyzed the country and left at least 19 people dead. What began as a government-imposed ban on social media has spiraled into a full-blown "Gen Z revolution," with thousands of young Nepalis taking to the streets to voice their deep-seated frustration with what they call a corrupt, nepotistic, and unaccountable political elite. The resignation comes amid scenes of chaos and violence, with protesters storming and setting fire to government buildings, including the private residences of the Prime Minister and President.
The catalyst for this nationwide unrest was a government decision to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, for failing to comply with new registration rules. The ban, which the government claimed was necessary for "social harmony," was widely perceived as a direct attack on freedom of expression and a cynical attempt to silence dissent. The move came just as a viral online movement, fueled by a new generation of activists, had taken hold. Using hashtags like #NepoKid and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, young people began exposing the lavish lifestyles of the children of politicians and powerful figures, contrasting their wealth—allegedly funded by corruption—with the harsh economic realities faced by ordinary Nepalis. For a nation where a significant portion of the economy relies on remittances from citizens working abroad, this display of unearned privilege struck a raw nerve.
The social media ban, intended to quell this online outrage, instead served as a rallying cry. It drove the digital movement onto the streets, transforming a virtual protest into a violent physical one. On Monday, thousands gathered in Kathmandu, defying curfews and clashing with security forces. Police responded with lethal force, firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition, which resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people and injuries to hundreds more. The violence further inflamed public anger, turning the protests from a demand to lift a ban into a full-scale uprising against the government and its alleged corruption.
The resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday, who cited "moral responsibility" for the deadly crackdown, was a harbinger of things to come. The protests, however, showed no signs of abating. On Tuesday, protesters broke through the gates of the main government complex, Singha Durbar, and set fire to the private residences of Prime Minister Oli and President Ram Chandra Poudel. They also vandalized the homes of other senior political figures, including former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The scenes of anarchy underscored the complete breakdown of public trust and the government's loss of control.
While Prime Minister Oli's resignation was a central demand of the "Gen Z" protesters, it does not signal an end to the crisis. Organizers of the movement have released a set of "non-negotiable demands" that include the dissolution of parliament, the mass resignation of all parliamentarians, and the immediate suspension of officials who authorized the use of lethal force against demonstrators. Their goal is not merely a change in leadership but a complete overhaul of a political system they view as irreparably corrupt.
The events in Nepal highlight a growing global phenomenon where a digitally native generation, armed with social media and a deep sense of frustration, is holding political establishments accountable. The movement is a testament to the power of a collective voice and the ability of a single government action, no matter how seemingly minor, to trigger a cascade of events when there is a pre-existing reservoir of public discontent. The youth of Nepal, tired of institutionalized corruption, high inflation, and a lack of economic opportunity, have shown that they will no longer be placated by empty promises. They have ignited a movement that has brought a government to its knees and demanded not just a new leader, but a new kind of politics.
Source@BBC