Gen Z Protests: Kathmandu is witnessing one of its darkest political chapters in recent history as violent Gen Z-led protests forced Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign from office. What began as outrage over a sweeping social media ban has spiraled into full-blown chaos, with protesters torching government buildings, private residences, and even storming the Parliament.
Just minutes before Oli tendered his resignation, visuals from the capital showed thousands of young demonstrators scaling barricades, breaking into Parliament, and setting fire to one of its buildings. Thick black smoke rose over the city as chants of “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (KP thief, leave the country) echoed through Kathmandu’s streets.
The anger didn’t stop at Parliament. Oli’s private residence in Bhaktapur’s Balkot area was attacked and set ablaze, as were the homes of other senior leaders. Former home minister Ramesh Lekhak’s residence at Naikap was torched a day after his resignation, a stark reminder of how public fury is extending beyond the sitting Prime Minister.
According to officials, at least 19 people have died in the clashes so far, while more than 300 others have been injured. The violence intensified despite the government’s decision to revoke the controversial ban on 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube—late on Monday. For the protesters, the reversal came too late. The lives lost during the crackdowns have transformed the movement into a broader anti-government uprising.
The chaos reached Nepal’s administrative heart as demonstrators breached Singha Durbar through its western gate, reportedly setting it on fire. Even as flames engulfed parts of the complex, protesters marched on, waving flags and calling for action against corruption and authoritarianism.
In a desperate bid to control the unrest, authorities imposed curfews across key areas of the capital. But these measures have done little to calm the streets. Instead, the protests spread further on Tuesday, with the central office of the Nepali Congress party in Sanepa being vandalised.
The crisis has disrupted daily life across the nation. Flights at Tribhuvan International Airport were cancelled for the day due to security concerns, though officials stressed that the airport had not been fully shut down. The India-Nepal border at Panitanki in West Bengal’s Darjeeling was also placed on high alert, with security patrols intensified to prevent spillover unrest.
For Oli, who has faced multiple controversies during his political career, the pressure became unbearable. His resignation marks the end of a turbulent era, but Nepal now stands at a crossroads. The Gen Z protests, born out of anger over censorship, have evolved into a wider demand for systemic change.
As Kathmandu burns, Nepal is grappling not just with the fall of a Prime Minister, but with a generational revolt that could reshape its political future.
