Gen Z-Led Demonstrations Over Corruption and Social Media Ban Escalate, Leading to K.P. Sharma Oli’s Exit
Published on: September 09, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal, was engulfed in chaos on September 9, 2025, as thousands of young protesters, under the banner of the “Gen Z movement,” stormed the federal parliament building, setting it ablaze in a dramatic escalation of anti-government demonstrations. The violent unrest, sparked by allegations of rampant corruption and a recently lifted social media ban, culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, marking a significant turning point in Nepal’s worst civil unrest in decades.
The protests, which began on Monday, September 8, saw enraged youth clashing with security forces, who deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to disperse crowds attempting to breach the parliament complex. At least 19 people were killed and over 300 injured, with reports of indiscriminate police firing fueling further outrage. On Tuesday, defying a curfew, protesters broke through barricades, entered the Singha Durbar administrative complex, and set fire to the parliament building, as well as the residences of prominent leaders, including Oli, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Nepali Congress President Ram Chandra Poudel.
The immediate trigger for the protests was the government’s decision to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube, for failing to comply with registration requirements. While the ban was lifted late Monday following deadly clashes, the demonstrations continued, driven by deeper frustrations over corruption, nepotism, and economic inequality. Protesters, many waving national flags and chanting slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media,” expressed anger at the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ families and the government’s failure to address systemic graft.
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Oli, who began his fourth term in 2024, announced his resignation on Tuesday afternoon, stating it was to “facilitate a solution to the problem and help resolve it politically.” The move followed the resignations of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari, who stepped down citing moral responsibility for the violent crackdown. The government has since formed a judicial committee to investigate the deaths and promised compensation for victims’ families and free treatment for the injured.
As protests continued to rage, Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport was shut down due to heavy smoke and security concerns, disrupting flights, including those from India. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to stay indoors and provided emergency helplines (+977–9808602881 and +977–9810326134) for assistance. Security along the India-Nepal border was heightened, with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) increasing patrols.
The unrest, described as a “protest by the new generation,” reflects widespread disillusionment with Nepal’s political establishment, which has faced criticism for instability since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. With no clear path to resolving the crisis, the nation remains on edge as calls for accountability and systemic reform grow louder.
