“Gen Z Protests Across Nepal Met With Harsh Government Crackdown”

 The nationwide protests led by Gen Z youths have shaken Nepal, especially the capital, Kathmandu, after the government suddenly banned social media. Demonstrations have spread to Butwal, Birtamode, and other cities, with reports of at least 14 deaths so far. If the unrest continues at this pace, Nepal risks heading toward crises similar to those seen in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

In Sri Lanka, protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s residence after the economy collapsed, forcing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee. In Bangladesh, student protests against government repression grew so intense that despite holding a two-thirds majority, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee to India.

In Nepal, the protests began peacefully at Maitighar Mandala, where young people voiced frustration over the social media ban. Instead of engaging in dialogue, the government dismissed their concerns, reducing the issue to “just four jobs.” Prime Minister, accused of adopting an authoritarian style, justified the ban by claiming that social media companies had violated national laws by failing to register with authorities.

While holding companies accountable is reasonable, the government’s abrupt ban created massive problems for ordinary people. Patients in hospitals struggled to contact families, and thousands of online workers risked losing jobs due to communication breakdowns. Critics argue that the government, which already struggles to spend its development budget, failed to understand how deeply digital platforms are tied to daily life—especially for Gen Z, who were born after 2000 and have grown up with technology.

This failure to learn from history has worsened the crisis. The Rana regime fell after clamping down on the educated masses. King Gyanendra lost his throne after cutting off media and communications, repeating the mistakes of Pakistan’s military ruler Pervez Musharraf. Yet Nepal’s leaders seem blind to these lessons, as well as to the recent events in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Gen Z protestors are not rejecting democracy or republicanism. They admire leaders like BP Koirala, Pushpa Lal Shrestha, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and Man Mohan Adhikari. What they reject are today’s dominant political figures—Deuba, Oli, and Dahal—whom they see as corrupt, ineffective, and unwilling to step aside. As one young protester said on a popular talk show: “We’ve seen the same faces since we were born, but they have done nothing for us.”

For many, the government now represents failure and frustration. Instead of creating jobs, it signs foreign labor agreements that send young Nepalis abroad. For those who stay, measures like the social media ban feel like punishment.

Gen Z had hoped for understanding, like children seeking care from parents. Instead, the state responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, causing deaths and injuries. At this point, mere dialogue may not resolve the crisis. Even an all-party government might not work, as public trust in traditional parties has collapsed.

The way forward, some argue, is for the government to resign and allow the President to form an interim administration led by Gen Z representatives, supported by respected national figures such as Dr. Sanduk Ruit or Mahabir Pun—similar to how Bangladesh formed a neutral caretaker government in times of crisis.