Nepal is witnessing its deadliest political unrest in years as violent Gen-Z protests forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign on Tuesday, plunging the Himalayan nation into deep uncertainty. The protests, largely led by youth demanding accountability over corruption, restrictions on freedoms, and police brutality, have now spiraled into nationwide violence, leaving at least 20 people dead and over 500 injured in the past two days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the violence in Nepal, calling the loss of young lives “heart-rending.” After a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, he stressed that Nepal’s stability, peace, and prosperity are of utmost importance to India. He urged “all brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace.”
Maharashtra Issues Advisory for Citizens
In India, the Maharashtra government has issued a travel advisory, asking citizens to avoid travelling to Nepal until further notice. Those already in Nepal have been urged to stay indoors, follow local administration orders, and contact the Embassy of India in Kathmandu for help. Emergency helplines (+977-980 860 2881, +977-981 032 6134, and helpdesk.eoiktm@gmail.com) have been made available.
Indian Companies on Alert
Major Indian FMCG players such as Dabur, ITC, Britannia, Marico, Patanjali, Reliance Consumer, and many of that operate through joint ventures or manufacturing units in Nepal. Any disruption in the political or economic landscape of Nepal can affect the flow of goods, raw materials, and finished products, leading to operational challenges and potential losses. The FMCG sector relies on stable supply chains to meet demand and maintain efficiency. Political instability introduces volatility, requiring companies to be agile and ready to adapt their strategies.
Spotlight on Kathmandu’s Young Mayor
With Oli’s resignation, political attention has turned to Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, Kathmandu’s 35-year-old mayor and independent leader with a background in engineering and rap music. Balen, who drew headlines in 2023 for banning Indian films in Kathmandu over a controversial dialogue in Adipurush, has now urged protesters to exercise restraint and avoid damaging public and private property.
Violence in Nepal: Police Killed, Parliament Set on Fire
Despite appeals for calm, violence escalated on Tuesday:
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Three police personnel were lynched by protesters in Koteshwor after surrendering.
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Protesters set fire to Nepal’s Parliament, the President’s office, the Supreme Court, and other government buildings, as well as residences of senior leaders including former PMs Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba.
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The house of former PM Jhalanath Khanal was attacked; his wife Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar succumbed to burn injuries after protesters torched the residence. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital, but succumbed to her injuries during treatment, family sources told local media.
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- photo by CSR Journal
According to initial reports, a group of protestors surrounded the residence and set it ablaze, trapping Ms. Chitrakar inside. Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement, but the incident marks a grim escalation in what is now being called one of Nepal’s most intense uprisings in recent memory.
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Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu has been completely shut down as the Nepali Army was deployed for security.
Constitutional Crisis Looms
While President Ram Chandra Paudel accepted Oli’s resignation, he clarified that the outgoing Cabinet will function until a new council of ministers is formed. Article 76(5) of Nepal’s Constitution allows any individual MP to stake claim to form a government, but protesters remain skeptical of the existing political class, accusing all major parties like Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Maoists of corruption and nepotism.
Analysts warn that Nepal’s situation mirrors Sri Lanka’s 2022 Aragalaya protests: the government may fall, but without clear political alternatives, entrenched elites could return. Protest organisers are demanding a citizens’ government followed by fresh elections, though such a move would be extra-constitutional and could trigger a larger crisis over the 2015 Constitution itself.
Nepal stands at a crossroads. The youth-led protests have toppled a prime minister, but questions remain: Can a credible alternative leadership emerge? Will protesters accept reforms within the current constitutional framework? Or will Nepal plunge into deeper instability as calls for a “citizens’ government” grow louder?
For now, Nepal remains in uncharted territory, with streets in flames, its politics in turmoil, and its future uncertain.
