Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal’s Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday citing “ethical reasons,” following the deaths of at least 19 young people during nationwide protests against corruption and the government’s decision to block major social media platforms.
Lekhak, a senior leader of the Nepalese Congress who had held the post since July 2024, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli during a cabinet meeting at the official residence in Baluwatar. The resignation was confirmed by Nepalese Congress lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain, who added that mounting public anger has also placed heavy pressure on Prime Minister Oli to step down.
Nationwide Unrest Turns Deadly
The resignation followed one of the bloodiest days of unrest in recent years. Protests that began in Kathmandu’s New Baneshwor area quickly spread to several major cities, leaving 19 people dead and more than 347 injured, many with severe bullet wounds to the head and chest, according to hospital sources cited by EFE.
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In the eastern town of Damak, protesters hurled stones at the residence of Prime Minister Oli, prompting security forces to fire warning shots. Across the East-West Highway, demonstrators erected barricades using burning tyres, paralyzing transport and commerce.
Authorities imposed a curfew in several parts of Kathmandu from 3:30 p.m. local time, but clashes continued into the night and spilled into neighboring districts.
Social Media Blockade Sparks Generation Z Revolt
The demonstrations were triggered by the government’s order to block 26 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter). For days, young people had voiced their anger online under hashtags such as #NepoKid, #NepoBabies, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, denouncing nepotism and systemic corruption.
The youth-led movement, spearheaded largely by Generation Z (ages 15–28), accused politicians of protecting their families and allies while restricting citizens’ freedom of expression.
Police Crackdown and Escalation
What began as peaceful demonstrations escalated as police moved in with water cannons, tear gas, and eventually live fire. Videos circulating online show heavily armed officers clashing with young protesters, some waving banners calling for “justice and jobs” and an “end to political corruption.”
With tensions spiraling, analysts warn that Nepal is facing its most serious governance crisis in years. “The scale of public anger and the loss of so many young lives has shaken the foundations of this government,” Bajgain told EFE.
Uncertain Political Future
Lekhak’s resignation marks a dramatic turning point in the crisis, but protest leaders insist it is not enough. Calls are growing louder for Prime Minister Oli to step down and for the immediate restoration of social media access.
As barricades smolder on Nepal’s highways and anger simmers among its youth, the country stands at a political crossroads — caught between demands for accountability and fears of further instability.
SOURCE : EFE. and DT | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
