Massive Gen Z protests shake Nepal, pressure mounts on PM Oli

Kathmandu: Nepal witnessed massive protests on Tuesday as thousands of young demonstrators took to the streets, escalating their agitation against the government of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The unrest followed the lifting of a controversial social media ban, which had triggered widespread anger among the country’s youth.

Protesters attacked and set fire to the private residences of President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Oli, while also vandalising properties belonging to former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” and Sher Bahadur Deuba, as well as Energy Minister Deepak Khadka. Visuals circulating on social media showed demonstrators entering the President’s residence and damaging property.

The Nepali Parliament building was also breached and set ablaze, marking a dramatic escalation of the unrest. The government has imposed curfew orders in several parts of the country, including Kathmandu, after two consecutive days of violence.

The protests, largely driven by Generation Z, erupted last week after the government blocked several social networking platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube, citing non-compliance with new registration and oversight rules. Though the ban was lifted on Monday, public anger has since broadened to include long-standing grievances over corruption, nepotism, and governance.

At least 19 people were killed in violent clashes with security forces on Monday, when tens of thousands gathered in Kathmandu and other cities. Protesters accused the police of using excessive force, alleging that students and young demonstrators were targeted.

Carrying placards with slogans such as “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Youths against corruption,” demonstrators accused the government of favouring the children of political leaders, widely labelled as “nepo kids” or “nepo babies.” Hashtags such as #NepoKid and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended widely across platforms.

Several cabinet ministers have reportedly resigned or distanced themselves from the Oli-led government, intensifying speculation about the Prime Minister’s political future. Protesters, meanwhile, have demanded Mr. Oli’s resignation, holding him responsible for the violence and calling his government authoritarian.

“The killings of young people must stop, and justice must be served,” said a protester outside the damaged Parliament building, speaking to news agencies.

Observers note that the ongoing unrest highlights a deepening disconnect between Nepal’s political leadership and its younger citizens, many of whom have come of age in the digital era and are increasingly vocal about accountability, transparency, and corruption.