Nepali PM resigns after violent protests vs social media ban
KATHMANDU—Nepal’s prime minister resigned on Tuesday following violent protests against a ban on social media platforms and government corruption.
Khadga Prasad Oli said he was stepping down immediately.
His resignation came after protesters set fire to the homes of some of Nepal’s top political leaders in opposition to a social media ban that was lifted early Tuesday, a day after deadly antigovernment protests when police opened fire and killed 19 people.
Local reports and videos shared on social media showed protesters attacking residences of the top political leaders in and around Kathmandu. A curfew was imposed in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed.
The houses set on fire included those of Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of the largest party Nepali Congress, President Ram Chandra Poudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and leader of the Communist party of Nepal Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A private school owned by Deuba’s wife Arzu Deuba Rana, who is the current foreign minister, was also set on fire.
Focus on government
The mass protest and attack on parliament on Monday began as opposition to the ban on social media platforms but were fueled by growing frustration and dissatisfaction against the political parties among the people who blame them for corruption.
“I am here to protest about the massive corruption in our country,” said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student.
“The country has gotten so bad that for us youths there is no grounds for us to stay back in the country.”
“Our demand and desire is for peace and end to corruption so that people can actually work and live back in the country,” he said.
Several protests were reported on Tuesday despite the indefinite curfew in the capital.
“Punish the murders in government. Stop killing children,” the protesters chanted while police used loudspeakers urging them to return home.
Unpopular
The protesters’ anger turned toward the government led by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who has increasingly becoming unpopular.
“We are here to protest because our youths and friends are getting killed, we are here to seek that justice is done and the present regime is ousted. K.P. Oli should be chased away,” said Narayan Acharya, who was among the protesters outside the battered wall of the parliament building on Tuesday.
Protester Durganah Dahal said they needed to protest the deaths caused by police acting on behalf of the prime minister’s government.
“As long as this government is in power, the people like us will continue to suffer,” Dahal said. “They killed so many youths yesterday who had so much to look forward to.”
