(Image source from: ANI)
Tension remains high in Nepal on Tuesday as new protests broke out in different areas of the country, just a day after the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli lifted a ban on social media to meet the "demands of Gen-Z." A curfew was enforced in numerous locations, including the capital city, Kathmandu, following another day of stone-pelting demonstrations in the streets. Police attempted to disperse the protesters, but it seemed they did not use any violence. The protesters chanted, “Punish the murderers in government. Stop killing children,” while police used loudspeakers to urge them to go home. The discontent among protesters was directed toward Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli’s administration, which has been losing popularity. Since Monday, two ministers from Oli's government have stepped down, as demonstrators are calling for the Prime Minister's removal. Protesters also damaged the house of former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda. Additionally, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka’s home was set ablaze, and protesters took over former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence.
“We are protesting because our young people and friends are being killed. We want justice and want to see the current government removed. KP Oli should be removed,” stated Narayan Acharya, who was part of the protests outside the damaged parliament building on Tuesday, speaking to the Associated Press. “We need to protest against the murders of so many young individuals and students, targeted directly by this government that resembles Hitler's regime. As long as this government remains, people like us will continue to suffer,” added Durganah Dahal, another protester. Gagan Thapa, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, has also urged Prime Minister Oli to take responsibility for the deaths of 19 protesters during the demonstrations and to resign. Several popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, X, and YouTube, were blocked in the country last week for not meeting a new requirement to register and comply with government monitoring. Rallies against the ban surged to tens of thousands in Kathmandu on Monday, with crowds gathering around the Parliament before police opened fire on them.
“End the social media ban. Fight corruption, not social media,” the demonstrators shouted, waving national flags. The rally on Monday was described as the protest of Gen Z, which typically refers to those born between 1995 and 2010.
