A Protest that was meant to give justice to the new generation has now led to severe public unrest, killing young school-going children. The northern neighbour of India has now reported a death toll of around 22, with 340 people being injured, with numerous resignations of people in power, including the resignation of ex-PM KP Sharma Oli and the untimely death of ex-PM Jhalanath Khanal’s wife.
The protest was originally started by Sudan Gurung, an activist and founder of an NGO named Hami Nepal, with protestors protesting in front of Maitighar Mandala, a symbolic monument to the Parliament of Nepal. However, because of the unnecessarily harsh actions of the police, the protest intensified and eventually led to a disastrous scenario.
The protest began in early September, when the government banned certain apps. It is said that the restrictions were imposed after the 26 restricted companies missed a deadline to register under new national regulations intended to ‘curb cybercrime, misinformation, and online fraud.’ The ban was on apps for daily use, such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, X, and many more; however, the bans were reversed shortly.
This must be one of the reasons, but it is not the only reason for the protests. Another major reason for this is the underlying corruption that created a huge gap between Gen-Z and “nepo-kids”. While children of leaders are being provided with a life full of luxury, Gen Z, carrying the future of Nepal, did not even have access to basic facilities. This huge economic gap was another reason that gave birth to a hashtag called “nepokids” and ultimately led to protests. This shows that the transformation of the country from a monarchy to a democracy hasn’t helped much, giving half-held tenures to 13 governments.
The protests have also elevated new political voices. Balendra Shah, an independent mayor of Kathmandu and a popular rapper, has been vocal about government corruption and inequality, gaining credibility as a rare outsider challenging traditional parties. He gained popularity in recent times because of his song “Nepal Haseko,” which brought the underlying problems of Nepal and the government to the world.
His popularity has made him a symbolic figure for the youth who saw him as part of a new generation of leadership and wanted him to represent them on a political level. However, recent developments talk about his political disinterest in being associated with the Nepal Government, as he does not intend to run the government, although he is still a part of the government by being the mayor of Kathmandu.
In recent developments, a new interim leader has been appointed for the country of Nepal, i.e., Justice Sushila Karki. Having completed her education from Banaras Hindu University, Karki is famous for being a fair jurist in the legal system of Nepal. She has also been awarded as the first woman chief justice of Nepal. After this appointment, the country has a potential ray of hope and looks forward to a better future.
