Saturday, March 29, 2025
Nepal Protests: Demonstrators Demand Prime Minister’s Resignation Despite Home Minister Stepping Down
Kathmandu – Nepal is witnessing massive unrest as thousands of young protesters, largely from Generation Z, flooded the streets of Kathmandu and nearby areas on Monday in anger over corruption allegations and restrictions on social media platforms. Demonstrators even attempted to storm the Parliament building, triggering violent clashes with security forces.
According to reports, police opened fire during the chaos, leading to the deaths of at least 19 protesters, while dozens of others were injured. The violence has shaken the government, which now appears to be in a defensive position.
In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced that the ban on social media would be reviewed and promised a more open approach. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned from his post, taking responsibility for the government’s handling of the protests.
However, the resignation did little to ease public anger. The protesters insist that the Prime Minister himself bears direct responsibility for the crisis and must step down. “It’s not just the Home Minister—Prime Minister Oli is the one accountable, and he should resign,” demonstrators declared.
The government has announced an official investigation into the violence and killings in Kathmandu and other cities. In a statement, PM Oli described the movement as a “peaceful Generation Z protest” that was hijacked by “anarchist elements” who deliberately provoked unrest.
“Our government understands the demands of the younger generation,” Oli said. “But certain disruptive forces infiltrated the protests and turned them violent. Security forces acted to protect constitutional institutions, which unfortunately led to tragic loss of life.”
The Prime Minister also clarified that his government does not intend to permanently block social media but emphasized that most platforms are not legally registered in Nepal. Following a cabinet meeting, Oli reviewed the situation but rejected calls for an immediate lifting of the ban.
As the crisis deepens, Nepal’s leadership faces mounting pressure both from the streets and within its political ranks, with protesters warning that their movement will continue until the Prime Minister himself steps aside.
