By Our Reporter
The “Gen Z” protests erupted across Nepal on September 8 and 9 against the social media ban and corruption. On the first day, police used tear gas, water cannons, and live fire, turning the situation violent. After protesters breached the security perimeter around the parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu’s administration imposed a curfew from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Seventeen young people were killed due to security forces’ actions, including two in Itahari and one in Damak. The government then lifted the social media ban, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned.
Despite the curfew, protests continued on September 9, with arson and vandalism targeting the parliament building, government offices, and leaders’ homes. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister. By September 15, the death toll had risen to 73.
The events put Nepal in the same category as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where mass protests have toppled governments in recent years. What started as a movement against the social media ban quickly evolved into an anti-corruption uprising that led to the government’s fall.
Indian media framed the events through a geopolitical lens. Some claimed the unrest was part of a proxy war between the US and China, pointing to Oli’s tilt toward Beijing, his signing of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, and his participation in China’s Victory Day parade. Analysts quoted by Indian outlets even called it a “100 percent US-engineered revolution” aimed at installing a pro-US government or even restoring monarchy.
TV channels connected the protests to foreign conspiracies, NGOs, and even corporate funding, naming Coca-Cola as a supporter of violent demonstrations. Some right-wing broadcasters described it as a demand for a Hindu state, though later evidence showed the viral videos were old footage from religious rituals.
Social media posts, often without evidence, portrayed the protests as being funded or incited by anti-Hindu or Islamist groups. Some even circulated fake images claiming protesters wanted India’s Yogi Adityanath as Nepal’s next prime minister.
Media coverage stereotyped young protesters as “data-addicted” and “manipulated,” downplaying structural issues like unemployment and corruption. Some presenters mischaracterized the protests as a push to restore monarchy or Hindu rule, ignoring the demand for accountability and stronger democracy.
In India, opposition leaders used Nepal’s turmoil to warn Prime Minister Modi’s government. BJP leaders dismissed the comments as dangerous and accused the opposition of inciting unrest. The debate triggered heated political exchanges and a fresh round of verbal clashes between ruling and opposition parties.
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