Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday following days of massive protests across Kathmandu and other cities, triggered first by a ban on social media platforms and later fueled by widespread anger over corruption.
Earlier in the day, Nepal’s Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had said that the Prime Minister would not resign. “Prime Minister Oli will not resign. The political parties are behind the protests and the violence. Anarchists have tried to take over the protest, resulting in violence. The Prime Minister will meet members of various political parties and he is also ready to meet those spearheading the protests,” he said.
Despite the assurance, mounting pressure from protesters and growing rifts within the Cabinet forced Oli to quit. Several ministers either resigned or announced plans to do so, citing the government’s failure to address public grievances.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, representing the Nepali Congress party in the coalition government, resigned on Monday after violent clashes. On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari stepped down, while Health Minister Pradeep Paudel said he would resign since “it is not possible to remain in the government under such circumstances.”
Protests Rock Kathmandu and Beyond
Protests escalated from Monday, with demonstrators blocking roads in Kalanki, burning tyres, and shouting slogans such as “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (K P Sharma Oli is a thief, quit the country) and “Take action against corrupt leaders.”
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Authorities imposed curfews in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, but protesters continued demonstrations. They vandalised the residence of former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, staged protests outside former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s house, and set ablaze the residence of President Ram Chandra Poudel.
On Monday, thousands of youths, including students under the banner of “Gen Z”, had staged a massive protest in front of Parliament carrying placards that read “shut down corruption and not social media” and “youths against corruption.”
The unrest began after the government banned 26 social media platforms on Friday for failing to register with authorities. The protests later spread beyond the capital to Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari, and Damak.
Despite appealing for peace and dialogue, Oli’s resignation marked the culmination of two days of violent clashes where police used water cannons, tear gas, and even live rounds to disperse demonstrators.
