Political Turmoil in Nepal: Prime Minister Ousted Amid Protests, Ex-PM’s Wife Dies in House Fire

Rapid Summary

• Resignation: Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli resigned after violent Gen Z-led protests erupted against corruption and censorship.
• Army control: The Nepal army announced it would take over obligation for law and order from 10 pm.
• Parliament Stormed: protesters stormed Nepal’s federal parliament,smashing windows,setting fires,and chanting anti-establishment slogans.
• Fatal Attacks on Politicians’ Homes: Ex-PM Jhalanath khanal’s wife died when protesters torched their home. Other political figures were assaulted. Foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba was beaten; Deputy PM Bishnu Prasad Paudel was chased by mobs.
• Casualties/Violence Escalation: At least 22 peopel were killed; over 300 injured in clashes across Kathmandu. Riots targeted media houses, hotels linked to elites, party headquarters, prisons (freeing inmates), and government compounds.
• Social Media Ban Catalyst: Protests were triggered by a social media ban under Oli’s governance; the ban was revoked amidst backlash but failed to quell unrest.
• security Measures: Curfews extended in key cities, rubber bullets fired at demonstrators. Airports suspended operations as chaos spread.

!Image of protests outside Nepal Parliament
!Torched Political Compound

Indian Opinion Analysis

The resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli amidst growing turmoil may be viewed as evidence of widespread public dissatisfaction with governance structures in Nepal. The intensity of the protests-led largely by the younger generation and sparked by censorship-reveals deep-seated frustration regarding clarity and systemic privilege.

While the army’s decision to assume control might stabilize immediate chaos temporarily, it raises questions about potential militarization of governance if civil systems fail to recover quickly. Implications for India could include shifts in bilateral relations or security concerns if violence spills into border areas or affects cross-border movement.With Gen Z spearheading such an unprecedented level of unrest against perceived impunity within leadership circles, India’s policymakers might observe these events closely as lessons on addressing youth dissent proactively-a demographic increasingly vocal about accountability worldwide.Read More