(Image source from: Cnbctv18.com)
Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down on Tuesday as numerous demonstrators stormed his office and damaged the homes of various political figures in response to the government's prohibition on social media. The protests resulted in 19 fatalities and over 300 injuries. The crowds, identifying themselves as Gen Z, yelled chants like “KP the thief, get out of the country” and “Hold Corrupt Leaders Accountable” in different areas of the capital, Kathmandu, according to a news report. The protesters set fire to Oli's home in Bhaktapur while he was at the Prime Minister's residence in Balwatar. They also set ablaze the home of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in Naikap, Kathmandu, despite his resignation on Monday. Oli's resignation occurred shortly after he called for a meeting with all political parties to address Nepal's worsening political climate as student-led protests against the government intensified across the nation.
Oli announced a meeting for 6 pm, but he did not mention where it would take place. He expressed that discussions were essential for resolving the ongoing crisis. Protests in Nepal grew on Tuesday, even with curfew restrictions in Kathmandu and other regions, and after the government's lifting of the social media ban. Protesters insisted Oli needed to resign, claiming that Lekhak's departure was not enough. Demonstrations were noted in Kalanki, Kalimati, Tahachal, and Baneshwor in Kathmandu, as well as Chyasal, Chapagau, and Thecho in Lalitpur. Many of the protesters were students who chanted slogans like "Don’t harm students," openly disregarding rules limiting public gatherings.
In Kalanki, protesters were seen burning tyres to block roads from the early morning, as per eyewitness reports. The demonstrators also threw stones at the home of Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung in Sunakothi, according to witnesses. Gurung had imposed the social media ban. The homes of former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, and Sher Bahadur Deuba in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, were also damaged by the protesters. The Gen Z movement, which has campaigned against corruption for a while, has been utilizing social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram to showcase the lavish lifestyles of ministers' children and other powerful individuals. They have shared videos and photos, questioning the origins of the wealth that enables such extravagance, which they allege comes from corrupt activities. They argued that the ban on social media was a way to stifle free expression.
The Nepalese government had prohibited 26 social media platforms, including Facebook and X, for not registering with governmental authorities. However, late Monday night, the government announced that access to these social media sites would be restored in an effort to calm rising public unrest.
