• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Nepal plunged into its worst political crisis in recent years after President Ram Chandra Poudel officially resigned on Tuesday amid ongoing violent Gen Z-led protests. His resignation came just hours after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down.

The unprecedented resignations came on the second day of massive demonstrations that left at least 19 people dead and over 300 injured, despite the imposition of curfews and heavy security deployments in Kathmandu and adjoining districts. According to senior government officials, the Nepalese Army is preparing to take charge of administrative control as the civilian leadership collapsed under pressure. Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel is expected to address the nation shortly, which is a crucial step that could determine whether Nepal heads towards a caretaker military-led administration or fresh elections.

President’s Residence Vandalised, PM Oli’s House Set Ablaze

The situation escalated dramatically after enraged demonstrators broke into the private residence of President Ram Chandra Poudel in Kathmandu, vandalising property and chanting slogans against corruption. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters ransacking parts of the house before police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Hours earlier, Prime Minister Oli’s private residence in Bhaktapur was also set on fire by protesters, who accused him of ignoring their demands and resorting to “authoritarian crackdowns.” Eyewitnesses said hundreds gathered outside the residence before setting it ablaze, though the flames were quickly brought under control. No casualties were reported from either attack. The agitators also staged demonstrations in front of former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, targeting their homes in Budhanilkantha and Khumaltar, respectively. Protesters claimed these leaders symbolised a political class that had “betrayed the nation for personal enrichment.”

What Sparked The Gen Z Uprising?

The protests, largely spearheaded by Nepal’s Generation Z, began last week after the government imposed a controversial ban on 26 social media and messaging platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), citing “national security concerns.” Students and young activists saw the ban as an assault on freedom of expression and mobilised rapidly using VPNs, Reddit, and encrypted apps. However, anger quickly broadened into a full-fledged anti-corruption movement, with demonstrators accusing ruling elites of amassing wealth while ordinary citizens faced unemployment, rising inflation, and poor governance. Viral posts and videos exposing the luxurious lifestyles of ministers’ children became rallying points for the agitation.

Despite the government lifting the ban late Monday night, protests escalated after the deaths of 19 demonstrators in clashes with police near the parliament building in Kathmandu. Witnesses reported that security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons as protesters attempted to storm the compound.

ALSO READ: Air India, IndiGo Suspend Flights To Kathmandu, Issue Advisories As Protests Intensify Across Nepal; Check Details

The crisis deepened further with the resignation of Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari on Tuesday, who condemned the government’s “brutal suppression of peaceful student demonstrators.” His exit followed that of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who stepped down a day earlier, accepting moral responsibility for the bloodshed. Local media also reported that several other ministers within the ruling coalition were preparing to quit, leaving the government in disarray.

Streets Still Boiling Despite Curfew

In spite of the city-wide curfew, demonstrators continued to occupy major intersections at Kalanki, Baneshwor, and Lalitpur, setting tyres alight and shouting slogans like "KP Chor, Desh Chhod" (KP thief, leave the country). Demonstrators defied warnings and fought with riot police in various areas, which underscored the extent of the people's fury.

ALSO READ: What Should Indians In Nepal Do? MEA Issues Fresh Advisory Amid Political Turmoil

While Nepal is struggling with its most deadly unrest since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, the question is whether the Gen Z-led movement will be able to bring about systemic reform or whether the military intervention will set the country in a long spell of instability. The Himalayan republic continues to be in shambles, with its political leaders in tatters and the streets of Kathmandu preparing for more confrontation at least for now.