Kathmandu, Sept 8: Former Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said the upheaval that shook Nepal a year ago exposed a deeper crisis of governance and warned that political stability cannot be secured simply by commanding a large majority in Parliament.
Karki made the remarks on Tuesday as Nepal observes the first anniversary of the Gen Z movement, which erupted across the country on September 8 and 9 last year. The government has designated September 8 as Gen Z Martyrs’ Day and declared it a public holiday in memory of those who died in the protests.
The movement began after the government blocked access to major social media platforms, but quickly grew into a broader revolt against corruption, political privilege, nepotism, poor governance and the lack of accountability in public institutions. Thousands of young people, many of them students, took to the streets in Kathmandu and other cities, carrying demands for greater transparency, accountability and a more responsive state.
The protests turned deadly on September 8 when security forces opened fire on demonstrators. At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The scale of the violence intensified public anger, eventually forcing the government to withdraw the social media ban.
Reflecting on the events a year later, Karki said the movement had sent an unmistakable message to political leaders and state institutions about the need to improve governance and rebuild public trust.
In a statement shared on social media, she paid tribute to those killed and wished those injured in the protests a speedy recovery. She also expressed concern over the destruction of public and private property, including national heritage sites and monuments, during the unrest.
Karki said the country should not forget the painful consequences of the movement and urged political leaders, state institutions and citizens to act responsibly so that such violence does not happen again.
She also challenged the assumption that a strong parliamentary majority by itself can produce political stability.
“Even a two-thirds majority in Parliament cannot ensure stability without good governance,” Karki said. According to her, stability depends less on parliamentary numbers than on how those in power exercise authority and respond to citizens.
Her remarks come as the government formed in the aftermath of last year’s upheaval faces the difficult task of translating the movement’s demands into institutional reforms. The protests were driven not only by anger over the social media ban but also by frustration over corruption, limited economic opportunities, political patronage and repeated changes of government.
Karki urged the government to strengthen governance, curb corruption, uphold the rule of law and ensure that citizens’ rights and dignity are protected.
She also linked the anniversary to the country’s current humanitarian crisis. The Bhotekoshi flood of August 26 has caused massive loss of life and property, leaving the government facing another major test less than a year after the political upheaval.
Karki called for patience, responsibility and national unity in responding to the disaster, urging citizens to support one another and help the country recover from the latest crisis.
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