Whither Renaissance in Nepal

Nepal reached a historic political turning point again.

- Vidhu Prakash Kayastha

A peaceful protest called by young people against the ban on social media, rising unemployment, and widespread corruption led to anarchy and a chaotic crowd entering the parliament building. Security forces were mobilized and at least 19 people were killed in a single incident. This incident, called the "Gen Z movement", turned into a decisive intervention of the youth in the history of Nepal. After this movement, Nepal is standing at a crossroads. On one side, there is the path to stability and reform, and on the other, it will fall into further chaos.

After the fall of the Oli-led government, the country is in complete political uncertainty. After the dissolution of the House of Representatives, there has been a standstill in policy-making and decision-making processes. When the government tried to shut down social media to control criticism of the government, the movement became stronger and more organized. The security challenge has become more serious after angry mobs vandalized government structures across the country, including the Parliament Building, the Supreme Court, and some business establishments and leaders’ homes. Nepal is currently facing a difficult juncture of political instability, economic crisis, and social imbalance. The economy has been seriously affected. In such circumstances, the main challenge for Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki is restoring peace, national dialogue, and rebuilding trust.