Nepal is witnessing its most intense protests in recent years as Gen Z-led demonstrations spiraled into widespread arson and vandalism across the country on Tuesday. The unrest, initially triggered by a now-revoked social media ban, has expanded into a broader movement against corruption and nepotism in government.
Protesters set fire to the Nepali Parliament building after breaching its premises. Private residences of President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli were also torched, with videos circulating online showing demonstrators vandalising the President’s house. Homes of former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) and Sher Bahadur Deuba, as well as Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, were also damaged.
Authorities imposed curfews in Kathmandu and several other regions after violent clashes continued for the second consecutive day. Despite the restrictions, demonstrators marched through streets, threw stones, and chanted anti-government slogans.
Prime Minister Oli, under mounting pressure, resigned on Tuesday amid repeated resignations by Cabinet ministers who began to distance themselves from his administration.
Why Nepalis Are Protesting
The protests began after the government blocked Facebook, X, YouTube, and 23 other platforms last week for failing to register with authorities. Though the ban was lifted on Monday to meet the “demand of Gen-Z,” public anger only intensified.
On Tuesday, the protestors set fire to the Nepal Parliament.
At least 19 people were killed in clashes on Monday when police opened fire on demonstrators outside Parliament. Protesters carried placards reading “Shut down corruption and not social media”, “Unban social media”, and “Youths against corruption.”
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Chants of “Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media” echoed across Kathmandu, while hashtags like NepoKid, NepoBabies, and PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended online.
“We are here to protest because our youths and friends are getting killed, we are here to seek that justice is done and the present regime is ousted. KP Oli should be chased away,” said protester Narayan Acharya.
“We need to protest the killings of so many young ones and students, aimed directly at their heads by this Hitler-like KP Oli’s government. As long as this government is in power, the people like us will continue to suffer,” added protester Durganah Dahal.
The youth-led demonstrations, dubbed the “Protest of Gen Z,” have become a defining moment in Nepal’s political unrest, highlighting public frustration with corruption, nepotism, and governance under Prime Minister Oli.
