Protests against Nepal’s short-lived ban on social media grew increasingly violent Tuesday as demonstrators set government buildings and politicians’ homes on fire and attacked some leaders. The prime minister resigned amid widening criticism of the country’s political elite.

The resignation appeared to have little effect on the unrest. Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets late in the day, blocking roads and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places.

A day earlier, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people and injuring 100.

The ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, fuelled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption in the nation wedged between China and India.

As the protests escalated, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced he was stepping down. The president accepted the resignation and appointed Oli to lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place — though it was unclear what power he would wield or even where he was.

President Ramchandra Paudel, the ceremonial head of state, made a public appeal to the protesters to come forward for dialogue to find a peaceful resolution and stop further escalating of the situation.

Jubilant youths entered the parliament complex after hearing that Oli had resigned, waving their hands and shouting slogans as smoke rose from sections of the building.

“We won,” one wrote in huge orange letters on the wall of the parliament building.

The army issued a statement calling for calm and urging political dialogue, but did not give any other details.

The demonstrations began after the government blocked platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.

But even after the sites came back online, the rallies continued, fuelled by anger over the deaths of protesters at the hands of police and growing frustration with the political elite in the nation wedged between China and India.
Protests against Nepal’s short-lived ban on social media grew increasingly violent Tuesday as demonstrators set government buildings and politicians’ homes on fire and attacked some leaders. The prime minister resigned amid widening criticism of the country’s political elite.

The resignation appeared to have little effect on the unrest. Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets late in the day, blocking roads and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places.

A day earlier, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people and injuring 100.


The ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, fuelled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption in the nation wedged between China and India.

As the protests escalated, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced he was stepping down. The president accepted the resignation and appointed Oli to lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place — though it was unclear what power he would wield or even where he was.

WATCH l Nepal’s parliament burns:

Smoke billows from Nepal’s parliament during anti-government protests

September 9
Nepal’s parliament was set on fire Tuesday, sending billowing clouds of smoke into the sky as anti-government demonstrators continued to protest, even as the prime minister stepped down in the face of widespread outrage around corruption and a deadly police clampdown on demonstrations.
President Ramchandra Paudel, the ceremonial head of state, made a public appeal to the protesters to come forward for dialogue to find a peaceful resolution and stop further escalating of the situation.

Jubilant youths entered the parliament complex after hearing that Oli had resigned, waving their hands and shouting slogans as smoke rose from sections of the building.

“We won,” one wrote in huge orange letters on the wall of the parliament building.

Three young males are shown gathered around a phone in the foreground as a long, august-looking building is on fire in the background.
Protesters take selfies and celebrate at the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepalese government ministries and offices, after it was set on fire during a protest against a social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu on Tuesday. (Niranjan Shrestha/The Associated Press)
The army issued a statement calling for calm and urging political dialogue, but did not give any other details.


The demonstrations began after the government blocked platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.

But even after the sites came back online, the rallies continued, fuelled by anger over the deaths of protesters at the hands of police and growing frustration with the political elite in the nation wedged between China and India.

WATCH l PM, several other politicians’ residences attacked:

Fire rips through residence of Nepalese PM who quit amid protest

September 9
Cameras captured a fire at the Kathmandu residence of KP Sharma Oli, who resigned as Nepal’s prime minister as anti-corruption, anti-government protests in the country escalated.
Youth unemployment high
“We are here to protest because our youths and friends are getting killed. We are here to see that justice is done and the present regime is ousted,” said Narayan Acharya, who was among the protesters outside the battered wall of the parliament building Tuesday. “K.P. Oli should be chased away.”

In particular, many young people are angry that the children of political leaders — so-called Nepo Kids — seem to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at 20 per cent last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or southeast Asia.

“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.”

Organizers of the protests, which spread to other cities, have called them “demonstrations by Gen Z,” driven by young people’s frustration with a perceived lack of action to tackle corruption and boost economic opportunities.

“The protest was intended, first and foremost, against the rampant corruption in government,” a protester said in an email to Reuters, signing off as “A concerned Nepali citizen.”

Young Nepalis had been posting on social media about the “luxurious lives of the families and children of corrupt politicians and civil servants” until the government clamped down on the platforms, the email said.

On Tuesday, local media and videos shared on social media showed protesters attacking the residences of the top political leaders in and around Kathmandu.

In addition to Oli’s private home, the houses set on fire included those of Paudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of the largest party Nepali Congress, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and leader of the Communist party of Nepal Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The presidential palace and a building that houses the offices of the prime minister and several ministries were all torched. Thick smoke rose from the prime minister’s office building.

A curfew was imposed in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed, but several protests continued in the capital despite the measures.