nepal protest

Lokmat

4 months ago

Transcript

00:00The word protest means people coming together to demand change, often loudly and bravely.

00:06And right now, Nepal, the peaceful land of Mount Everest and quiet Montessori is full of protests.

00:14Young people, especially Gen Zs, are filling Kathmandu streets,

00:18setting buildings on fire and forcing the Prime Minister to quit.

00:22Why are they so angry? What's going on? And what's next for Nepal?

00:26Let's jump into this exciting story of protests, courage and a fight for a better future.

00:33So hello everyone, this is your host Gaurang and you are watching Lokmat Times.

00:37But as we move ahead and try to understand the current situation in Nepal,

00:42do not forget to subscribe our channel and if you think the story shows you the real picture,

00:48do not forget to like and share this with others.

00:50So let's get back to our today's topic,

00:53where young people, especially the Gen Zs, are protesting in the street of Kathmandu's.

00:59But why are they so angry? And what's next for Nepal?

01:03Let's find out in this exciting story of protests, bravery and a fight for the change.

01:08It all started on September 4, 2025,

01:11when Nepal's government dropped a shocking ban on 26 major social media platforms,

01:17including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X.

01:21The government said these platforms didn't follow new rules to register with the Ministry of Communication.

01:27They also claimed it was to stop hate speech and misinformation.

01:32But for the Nepal Ziyot, this felt like a direct attack on their freedom to speak.

01:37And that was a spark that lit the entire fire.

01:40Now, you might think this is just about social media, but the story goes much deeper.

01:46Nepal's young people, especially those called as Gen Zs, were already boiling with anger.

01:52As Nepal is a country where the average person earns just $1,400 a year, that's about $4 per day.

01:59Meanwhile, the children of powerful politicians, often called as the Nepal kids,

02:04are seen flaunting fancy cars and luxurious lifestyles on social media.

02:08This difference has fueled rage, especially among the youth,

02:12who feel cheated by a system riddled with corruption and nepotism.

02:16The protests began peacefully on September 8,

02:19led mostly by students and young people under 30.

02:22Many who attended the protests were wearing school uniforms.

02:25They gathered at Maitigar Bandala, a famous protest site in Kathmandu,

02:30chanting slogans like,

02:31KP, you are a thief and leave the country, and enough is enough.

02:36But things turned chaotic.

02:38Protesters broke through police barricades,

02:41stormed the parliament, and set fire to government buildings,

02:44including the iconic Singh Darbar.

02:47And in response to this, the security forces fired tear gas,

02:51rubber bullets, and even live ammunition.

02:54And as a result to this response, at least 19 protesters were killed,

02:59and over 400 were injured.

03:01This violence shocked the entire world,

03:03and soon the United Nations called for calm,

03:06and an investigation into the disproportionate use of force.

03:10The anger only grew wherein the protesters didn't want the social media ban lifted.

03:16This time, they demanded the entire government to step down,

03:20and they got their results.

03:21On September 9, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned,

03:26looking at the rage and anger amongst the protesters in Nepal.

03:30He was airlifted from his residence as protesters set his home on fire.

03:34Oli was a veteran politician from the Communist Party of Nepal,

03:38who had been in power multiple times.

03:40But government was accused of corruption and failing the youth.

03:44The social media ban was reversed the same day,

03:47but it was too late, and the damage was already done.

03:50Home Minister Ramesh Lekak also quit,

03:53taking moral responsibility for the deadly crackdown.

03:56But the protesters, led by groups like Hami Nepal,

03:59a youth-focused non-profit, aren't stopping.

04:02They want a complete overhaul of the government.

04:06So now the biggest question here is,

04:08why is the Gen Z leading this charge?

04:10Let's understand.

04:12They are tech-savvy and fed up at the same time.

04:14They see a country where over 20% of young people are unemployed,

04:19and millions leave the country because of job scarcity.

04:23They are angry at politicians like Oli and others,

04:26like Sher Bahadur Dioba and Pushpa Kamal Dhaar,

04:29who have rotated power for years,

04:31while little changes for the average Nepali citizen.

04:35Social media gave the youngsters a platform to expose the inequality,

04:39and when the government tried to silence them,

04:42it was the final showdown.

04:43So before we wrap up the entire conversation,

04:46let's explain some terms we have heard in recent headlines.

04:49First is the Gen Z.

04:51This refers to people born roughly between 1997 to 2020.

04:56So they are about 13 to 28 years old now.

04:59They are digitally natives,

05:00growing up with smartphones and social media.

05:03And they are known for their activism and challenging authority.

05:08In Nepal, they are the heart of this protest.

05:11Then there is Generation Alpha.

05:12Born after 2012,

05:14these kids are early teens today.

05:17They are even more tech-connected,

05:18but aren't leading this protest.

05:21Nepal's story is far from over.

05:23The courage of its Gen Z protesters has shaken a nation,

05:27forcing the Prime Minister to step down

05:29and putting the entire world's eye on Katamani.

05:32But with buildings burning and lives lost,

05:35the path forward is uncertain.

05:37So here is the big question.

05:39Will Nepal's youth get the change they are fighting for?

05:42Or will the cycle of corruption and unrest continue?

05:46Stay tuned as the story unfolds.

05:48And let us know what you think in the comments below.

05:51So this is your host, Gaurang from Lokman Times,

05:55signing off.

06:02Thank you for listening.

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