Nepal Gen Z Protest Highlights: Gen-Z proposes ex-chief justice Sushila Karki as interim PM

Eminent Nepalese jurist Sushila Karki, who has emerged as a probable face to lead an interim government in the violence-wracked Himalayan nation, is a former chief justice who carries a reputation for a no-nonsense, anti-corruption stance.

While she lacks political and executive experience, it’s this anti-graft reputation that has prompted Nepal’s Gen Z protesters to put forward her name as interim prime minister. Read HERE

Amid escalating political turmoil in Nepal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to intensify surveillance along the state’s border with the neighbouring country.

Chairing a high-level meeting via video conference on Tuesday night, Dhami instructed district administrations, police and security forces to keep a close watch on anti-social and disruptive elements through intensive checking at border points. He stressed the need for strict monitoring of entry routes and heightened vigilance on cross-border movement.

The meeting, attended by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, DGP Deepam Seth and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials, reviewed the evolving situation. Dhami asked authorities in the three bordering districts—Pithoragarh, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar—to ensure close coordination with central security agencies and the SSB.

He also called for enhanced community participation in border security, urging villagers, local committees, police and forest officials to work collectively in strengthening surveillance systems. Monitoring of social media to counter rumours, misinformation and provocative content was also emphasised.

The chief minister directed strict adherence to security guidelines issued by the Centre and assured deployment of additional forces if required. Officials said the meeting also discussed strengthening intelligence networks and improving coordination with central agencies to deal with potential security challenges in border areas. (PTI)

China on Wednesday called on Nepal to resolve its internal crisis peacefully and restore stability, after days of violent youth-led protests forced Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resign.

“China and Nepal are traditional friendly neighbours,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing, urging “all sections of Nepal” to “properly handle domestic issues” and bring back social order “as soon as possible.”

This was Beijing’s first official response to the turmoil in Kathmandu. Lin refrained from commenting directly on Oli’s resignation, even though the former prime minister was seen as close to China and had played a key role in strengthening Kathmandu’s ties with Beijing.

Oli, who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and China’s September 3 military parade commemorating the victory over Japan in World War II, stepped down on Tuesday after unprecedented protests against corruption and a controversial social media ban engulfed Nepal. (PTI)

The Nepal Army announced on Tuesday that it will assume control of security operations from 10 pm, just hours after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned amid 27 hours of violent unrest in Kathmandu and other cities.

In a statement, the Directorate of Public Relations and Information cautioned that “some groups are taking undue advantage of the difficult situation and causing severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property.”

The military warned that all security agencies, including the Army itself, would be fully mobilised if violence continues. At the same time, it appealed for public cooperation, urging citizens to refrain from destructive acts and help restore order. (PTI)

Let’s bring you up to speed.

1. Prime Minister Oli resigns amid protests: Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli stepped down on Tuesday after days of violent, student-led protests against his government. His resignation came just a day after 19 people were killed in police action.

2. Widespread violence and arson: Demonstrators vandalised parliament, stormed party offices, and set fire to the homes of several senior leaders, including Oli’s private residence in Balkot. Properties of President Ramchandra Paudel, former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, and former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba were also attacked.

3. Trigger: ban on social media: The unrest erupted after the government banned 26 social media sites, including Facebook and X, over their failure to register with authorities. Though the ban was revoked late Monday, protests continued, fuelled by anger over corruption and the deaths in police firing.

4. Gen Z at the forefront: The movement has been led largely by Gen Z students, who have used platforms like Reddit and Instagram to highlight alleged corruption and the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children. Their slogans included “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (KP thief, leave the country) and “Don’t kill students.”

5. Casualties and injuries: At least 19 people were killed and more than 300 injured in police crackdowns on Monday, making it one of the deadliest political flare-ups in recent years.

6. Demonstrations spread beyond Kathmandu: Protests broke out across Kathmandu and extended to Lalitpur and other districts. In Kalanki, demonstrators blocked roads by burning tyres from the early morning, while other groups attacked homes of political figures.

7. Army and security agencies appeal for calm: With the situation worsening, the heads of the Nepal Army, police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department issued a joint statement urging restraint and dialogue. “A peaceful resolution through dialogue is the only way to restore order and stability,” they said.

8. Oli cites ‘extraordinary circumstances’: In his resignation letter to President Paudel, the 73-year-old UML leader said he was quitting to pave the way for a “constitutional and political” resolution to the crisis. He had become prime minister in July 2024 with support from the Nepali Congress Party.

9. Regional and diplomatic implications: Oli, seen as close to China, resigned just days after attending the SCO summit in Tianjin and a military parade in Beijing. His exit is expected to have implications for Nepal’s relations with both China and India—he had been scheduled to visit New Delhi later this month.

10. Protesters’ broader demands: Beyond lifting the social media ban, protesters are demanding accountability for the 19 deaths, stronger guarantees for freedom of expression, and even a retirement age for political leaders. The Nepal Army has separately pledged to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity.

WATCH

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel on Tuesday called on all parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis. “The country is going through a challenging period,” he said, urging everyone, including the protesting Gen Z, to cooperate in finding a peaceful solution. Noting that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation has already been accepted, Paudel emphasised the need for collaboration among all those committed to the country, its people, and democracy to overcome the current stalemate.

"As Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's resignation has already been accepted, there is a need for cooperation of all sides who love the country, people and democracy, to find a solution to the current stalemate,” he pointed out.

The Nepali Army and chiefs of the country’s top security agencies on Tuesday issued a rare joint appeal urging protesters to show restraint and resolve the deepening crisis through dialogue.

“With the Prime Minister’s resignation already accepted by the president, we call upon all to exercise restraint and prevent further loss of life and property in this difficult situation,” the statement said.

The officials added that “a peaceful resolution through political dialogue is the only way to restore order and stability.”

The appeal was signed by Army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, Home Secretary Gokarna Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung, and National Investigation Department chief Hutraj Thapa.

It came as protesters torched the parliament, parts of the Singha Durbar government complex, the Supreme Court, political party offices, and homes of senior leaders amid escalating violence. (PTI)

Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, was allegedly beaten up and stripped by protesters. Videos purportedly recorded at the scene appeared to show Paudel, 65, being hauled around by his hands and legs by a group of people.

Paudel is vice chairman of CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist), the party of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who resigned earlier in the day.

Ek Nath Dhakal, a former minister, was also stripped and paraded by the protesters.

GenZ protesters are holding former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba, who is the foreign affairs minister of Nepal, in their custody.

The protesters stormed the home of the Deubas in Budanilkantha in Kathmandu and allegedly assaulted the couple. Videos purportedly from the scene appeared to show Deuba bleeding from the side of this face. The home was vandalised by the protesters.

Deuba is the president of the Nepali Congress, which is part of Nepal's ruling coalition. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned earlier in the afternoon.

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel has accepted Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation, his aide said, Reuters reported. Paudel has begun the process of appointing a new leader, the aide told Reuters.

In a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli cited the nation’s extraordinary circumstances and stressed the urgency of a constitutional political solution, the notice said: "I was appointed Prime Minister on Asar 31, 2071 BS, under Article 76(2) of the Constitution of Nepal. Considering the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and in order to facilitate further efforts toward a constitutional political solution and problem resolution, I hereby resign from the office of Prime Minister, effective immediately, under Article 77(1)a of the Constitution," The Himalayan Times reports.