NOBODY thought that after Sri Lanka and Bangladesh it would be the turn of Nepal to go through mob violence and arson leading to the downfall of KP Sharma Oli's Government. Even those who were waiting for people's backlash against the political arrogance of successive ruling alliances did not think that it could happen so soon and in the way that it happened.

The immediate cause of the Gen-Z protest was the Oli Government's announcement of its intention to ban social media apps in case they fail to register themselves under regulations within the stipulated time frame. The young generation of Nepal, now being called Gen-Z, was very active on social media against corruption, nepotism and joblessness. They unleashed a huge campaign on social media against this move of the government. When the government finally banned 26 social media apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. on September 4, 2025, various NGOs and social media influencers called upon the students and youths to collect in Kathmandu on September 8, to register their protest. The most prominent among them was Mr. Sudan Gurung, President of Hami Nepal, a non-governmental organization. Students were called upon to come to the protest site in school uniforms and books in their hands. It shows that it was a call for a peaceful protest.

On September 8, a section of protesters entered the Parliament building and vandalized it. Instead of tactful and sensitive handling, the authorities used force, including bullets, resulting in the loss of 20 precious young lives. The people of Nepal had never witnessed such a brutal suppression of a mass movement. They were shocked and angered. They wholeheartedly supported the protest as it stemmed from the growing grievances of the people, particularly the youth, against the repeated failures of successive governments to resolve their genuine problems and meet their aspirations. The sharp rise and prevalence of high levels of unemployment also aggravated the sense of alienation and disquiet.

On September 9, the Parliament House, the President's office, the Supreme Court building, the Raj Mahal, the Singha Durbar, local government offices, hotels and private properties were attacked and burnt. Houses of prominent political leaders and offices of political parties were set on fire. Political leaders, including former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, were beaten up. Finally, in the evening, KPS Oli resigned from the Prime Minister's post and his resignation was immediately accepted by the President. Next day, the military brought the situation under control and imposed a nationwide curfew. Military chief, General Ashok Sigdel, started a dialogue with protest leaders in order to form an interim government. Finally, the former Chief Justice of Nepal, Sushila Karki, was appointed as the interim Prime Minister on September 12, 2025.

Some revealing features of these events are as under:

1.         The Gen-Z leaders gave a call for a peaceful protest. Then why and how did it turn into mob violence?

2.           All symbols of the State including the Parliament, President’s office, Supreme Court, Singha Durbar, Secretariat, and all others except military headquarters were attacked and burnt. Most of the Gen-Z leaders swear by democracy and want a democratic setup to be inclusive and responsive to the people's genuine problems and aspirations. Then who instigated the mobs to attack these symbols of State and democracy, and why?

3.           The entire political establishment except the pro-monarchy Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) came under attack of mob violence. Offices of even those opposition parties and houses of their leaders were burnt who have supported the Gen-Z protesters demands. Who gave the violent mob the addresses of private houses of the leaders of these parties? Who was to benefit by discrediting the entire political establishment and democratic institutions including the Supreme Court?

4.           The mob stormed the Nakkhu Jail in Kathmandu to get Rabi Lamichhane, the former deputy prime minister and leader of Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) released who was convicted by court in a corruption case. He was given a hero’s welcome by the mob hoping that he will be in the race for the PM's post besides Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and others. Hundreds of criminals also escaped in this melee. It is alleged that the military and the police forces remained silent spectators when the mob went on a rampage.

5.          Immediately after the resignation of Oli the demand for restoration of monarchy was raised in a big way. The former king Gyanendra himself released a video of his message to test the waters. The army chief, Ashok Sigdel addressed the nation with a portrait of late king Prithvi Narayan Singh in the background.

It is apparent from the above that pro-monarchy and other right wing forces as well as certain vested interests had infiltrated the protest. They instigated and led a section of protesters into the Parliament building on September 8. Brutal suppression of the movement provided an opportunity to these forces to hijack the protest movement. Only the monarchy, Hindutva and other right-wing forces were to be benefited by discrediting the entire political establishment and democratic and constitutional institutions. These were the political forces who led the targeted violence and arson on September 9. Obviously, the criminal and anti-social elements always take advantage of such situations by attacking and looting private properties, hotels etc.

It is to be noted that RPP and other pro-royalist forces like Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) have become very active in recent months. When the former king Gyanendra arrived at Kathmandu International Airport on March 9, 2025, he was given a grand welcome. Around ten thousand people joined his procession in which posters of Gyanendra and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were displayed and restoration of monarchy was demanded.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, a Nepali chapter of RSS, is running a large number of Pashupatinath Shishu Mandirs on the lines of RSS's Sarsawati Shishu Mandirs and propagating for Nepal to be declared as Hindu Rashtra. Pracharaks of HSS are being trained by RSS. HSS has many front organizations which are active in different fields of life. RSS, BJP, VHP and other Hindutva forces in India are very vocal supporters of Hindu monarchy in Nepal.

Another very significant economic and political force in Nepal is a huge nationwide network of NGOs mainly funded by European countries and the USA. These NGOs have very strong lobbies in almost all the political parties of Nepal. The NGOs play a significant role in the internal functioning, policy and decision-making procedures of political parties. What role these NGOs have played in this Gen-Z protest is a matter of investigation.

Unfortunately, Nepal has been passing through a long phase of political instability for more than three decades. No government could complete its full term. Nepali people have a more than seven decades old glorious history of struggle against monarchy and for democracy. Monarchy was officially abolished on May 28, 2008. After that in two general elections held in 2008 and 2013 no political party got majority. Three major political parties – Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress – with the help of other smaller parties, formed different coalition governments at different intervals. Their primary task was to prepare the Constitution of Nepal as well as to discharge the responsibility of an elected government. The Constitution was adopted on September 20, 2015. But on economic and other fronts the successive governments failed to deliver. Nepal had nine Prime Ministers in the first 10 years after abolition of  the monarchy.

In 2018, just before the parliamentary and provincial elections, two streams of Nepalese Communist movement namely the CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) declared their intent to unify and fight the elections unitedly. This generated a lot of hope and enthusiasm among the people of Nepal. The unified Nepal Communist Party got almost two third majority and formed the government at the centre and in six out of seven provinces. It was rightly hoped by the people, in Nepal and also across the world, that the phase of political instability in Nepal was over. But this hope proved to be an illusion as the unified CPN got divided into three groups. Nepal has seen 14 governments in 17 years.

These short-lived governments could not fully focus on building and strengthening the State institutions and fulfill the demands and aspirations of the people as was promised by these political parties. On the contrary corruption, nepotism, unemployment and price rise increased. The resultant discontentment of the people was being used by the pro-royalist and right-wing forces. They got the opportunity in the Gen-Z protest to discredit the entire political establishment, democracy and the Constitution itself. Their aim was to bypass the constitution and capture power and gradually pave the way for the restoration of monarchy.

The people of Nepal had made huge sacrifices during the anti-monarchy struggle and for a secular and democratic republic. They were angry with the government but they did not want the restoration of the monarchy. What happened on September 9, made them realize that both the Constitution and democracy are at stake. The majority of protest leaders also came forward in defense of democracy and foiled the designs of these pro-royalist and right-wing forces. But at the end of the day the leadership of the main political parties lost credibility to a great extent.

The interim government has constituted a high-level commission to probe the violent incidents during the Gen-Z protest. The ousted prime minister KPS Oli is reported to have said that his government did not order the use of bullets against the protesters. These bullets were fired from automatic weapons which the local government forces on ground did not have. There are reports that bullets were also fired from the top of some buildings. We have to wait for the findings of the probe panel to know the truth. We can only hope that the interim government, as the interim Prime Minister has announced, is successful in holding the general elections as per the provisions of the Constitution within six months so that a newly elected government is formed.