Kathmandu is in turmoil as protests led by Nepal’s Gen Z youth forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign within 48 hours. Sparked by a social media ban, the unrest has escalated into demands for sweeping political change, the biggest challenge to Nepal’s leadership in decades.
Kathmandu has been plunged into chaos as deadly protests, led largely by Nepal’s “Gen Z” youth, turned the capital into a battlefield. In the past 48 hours, the political crisis reached a boiling point, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign amid a wave of unprecedented public rage. What began as anger over a social media ban has now escalated into a demand for total political overhaul.
Gen Z at the Forefront
The demonstrations, dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” are led by young Nepalis born between 1995 and 2010. The immediate trigger was the government’s sweeping ban on Facebook, YouTube, and X, alongside a proposed bill requiring platforms to register and submit to local oversight. Rights groups have condemned the bill as a tool for censorship that undermines freedom of expression and punishes dissent.
The Trigger and Deadly Escalation
The Oli government argued the ban was needed because companies had failed to register locally. But critics, including human rights organizations, viewed it as an attempt to stifle free speech. The move disrupted communication, business, and activism — turning simmering frustration into an eruption.
What began with peaceful slogans like “Stop corruption, not social media” and “KP thief, leave the country” quickly spiraled into deadly clashes. Police crackdowns left at least 21 people dead and more than 300 injured, many of them students. The use of live ammunition and excessive force drew swift condemnation from the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, both demanding an independent investigation.
Rising Public Anger
For years, ordinary Nepalis have complained of corruption, nepotism, and economic stagnation. Oli’s critics say he often aligned too closely with Beijing, a sentiment that grew after his government banned all platforms except the Chinese app TikTok. Some observers expect him to now blame India for provoking the protests — a claim analysts dismiss as political deflection.
Nepotism and Inequality
The protests also expose deep resentment toward Nepal’s political elite. In the weeks before the ban, viral TikTok videos highlighted the luxury lifestyles of politicians’ children — widely mocked as “nepo kids.” Their displays of wealth fueled anger in a country where the per capita income is just $1,400 a year, underscoring stark inequality.
Youth Unemployment Crisis
Nepal’s youth unemployment rate stood at 20% last year, according to the World Bank. With limited opportunities, an estimated 2,000 young people leave Nepal daily for work in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. Protesters argue the government’s failure to create jobs or address corruption has driven an entire generation to desperation.
Protests Intensify Despite Resignation
Even after Oli resigned and the social media ban was lifted, demonstrations intensified. Protesters shifted focus to the entire political class, storming government offices and torching the homes of top leaders.
In one shocking incident, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were violently attacked by a mob. Both appeared bloodied in videos before being rescued by army personnel. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel was also beaten on the street in a viral video. The violence claimed the life of Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of ex-Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, who died of burn injuries after her home was set ablaze.
Demands of the Movement
The protests are no longer about social media. The leaderless Gen Z movement is demanding sweeping systemic reform, including:
The immediate dissolution of Parliament
The resignation of all parliamentarians
Suspension of officials responsible for the deadly crackdown
Formation of an interim government led by protest representatives
Early elections and structural reforms
This uprising, the worst civil unrest in Nepal in decades, has left the country’s political future in turmoil. With public trust at an all-time low, and youth resolute in their demands, Nepal stands at a crossroads.
India’s Wait-and-Watch Approach
For India, Nepal’s crisis is more than a neighbor’s domestic issue. The two nations share an open border, where millions of families live with relatives across both sides. Given the deep economic and social ties, New Delhi has little choice but to watch closely, balancing its concerns about instability with its long-term regional interests.
